Big Tex arrives in Big Apple

The third free-agent prize the Yankees signed in the offseason arrived in New York today.

Mark Teixeira addressed the New York media as he was introduced officially as a Yankee, showing of his new number 25 Yankee pinstripes jersey and meeting his new manager Joe Girardi for the first time.

Teixeira stared his career wearing the number 23 jersey to honor his favorite player Don Mattingly, but since 23 is retired by the Yanks, he settled for 25, formerly Jason Giambi's number.

"I think that says a lot about the Yankee organization," Teixeira said. "I loved Cal (Ripken), I loved Eddie (Murray), but there's something about Don Mattingly. I used to wear a Yankee hat to games – that wasn't a safe thing to do in Baltimore."

Teixeira was signed by the Yankees to an 8 year, $180 million deal in December, after denying offers from the L.A. Angels, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox.

The press conference was held at old Yankee Stadium, which Girardi mentioned "doesn't want to die."

Teixeira hit .308 with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's for the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels last season. He has a career .290 batting average with 203 home runs in just over 900 career games in the majors.

"No one's going to expect more out of me than me," the 28-year-old Teixiera said. "I believe I have yet to tap my potential. I'm trying to get better. I haven't accomplished anything yet - I don't have a World Series ring on my finger."

The Yankees will have all the world watching them this season however. Their 2008 plan to "build from the farm up" cost the Yankees their 13th consecutive postseason appearance as the Yanks finished 89-73, also marking the first time in 12 years the Yankees finished with less than 90 wins.

So the Yankees did what the Yankees do best... buy talent. Their $450 million shopping spree on pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira not just shocked the sports world, but put the Yankees in the spotlight where they must win the World Series to justify their offseason spree.

New digs, new lineup, new season... it should be a fun, and maybe a bit nerve-racking, watching the Yanks in 2009.