Mark Teixeira Hurt Wrist Will Be Out Two Months

Spring training hasn't exactly been too kind to the New York Yankees so far this year. First they lose Curtis Granderson for a stretch with a broken arm. Now it has been announced that the team will be without the services of Mark Teixeira for the next eight to ten weeks with a strained right wrist. According to sources, Teixeira was hurt swinging a bat Tuesday in an indoor cage during pregame warmups with the U.S. WBC team. Initially, Teixeira was expected to be out eight to 10 days, but Teixeira was examined by Yankees doctors in New York on Wednesday and a diagnosis of eight to 10 weeks was given. It’s the second major injury for the Yankees during spring training this year. Outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm when he was hit by a pitch Feb. 24. He will also be sidelined until early May. So the Yankees are in a bit of trouble with two of their biggest power hitters from last season out of the lineup.

So with the injuries to Tex and Granderson, a nice chunk of home run power is gone from the lineup. Last season Tex had 24 homers and 84 RBI, while Granderson paced the club with 43 homers and 106 RBI. That's a lot of power and run production missing from the Yankees lineup for the first month or two of the season. With Granderson out of the lineup it looks as if Juan Rivera will be the everyday left fielder to Curtis comes back from the injury. Rivera put up some good numbers with the team last year, but didn't really play everyday. Having Granderson out will be a factor on the team for the first few months. It won't be a huge factor but it will still be a factor.

As for Teixeira that leaves a bit more of a question mark as to what the Yankees will do at first base ion his absence. Right now it appears that the club will have Kevin Youkilis play at first and have Eduardo Nunez possibly play 3rd base. The reason Youkilis was brought in to begin with was as an insurance policy at 3rd with Alex Rodriguez out of the lineup for a good chunk of the season following hip surgery over the winter. So now with Tex being out hurt it looks like the smart move would be to put Youkilis at 1st and start Nunez at 3rd.

What will the Yankees opening day roster look like with all the injuries right now? Only time will tell.