Even With A $180 Million Contract, Mark Teixeira’s Wife Leigh Teixeira Rules The Roost

It turns out that the biggest piece of the puzzle this offseason for the Yankees in trying to land free agents wasn’t trying to outwit the Red Sox for players, but the player’s wives instead. Before the Bombers signed C.C. Sabathia to his fat contract, reports were that Yanks G.M. Brian Cashman had to go out to the Bay Area and beg his wife to let him sign with him. And after yesterday’s news conference introducing former Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Bronx faithful, we became privy to the fact that his wife, Leigh, had been the one to pull the trigger on joining the Yanks out of all the teams courting him, including the Sox.

Throughout his free agency, Teixeira solicited his wife’s opinion and she kept saying, “I just want you to be happy,” Teixeira recalled. On date night, Teixeira asked, “Everything’s equal, where do you want to go? She finally said, ‘I want you to be a Yankee.’”

She must’ve coughed the whole “And make tons of money” part.

Teixeira’s favorite player growing up was Don Mattingly, but in the end, it was his wife who helped the Yankees get their new first baseman. “Cash should give Leigh a hug,” Teixeira joked.

“I thought it would be special for him to be a Yankee,” Leigh Teixeira said.

You know, it would be wrong to suggest that Leigh Teixeria had anything but the best interest in her husband’s well being. But considering the opening to the Daily News story set the scene of their “date night” in a country club, we’re pretty sure visions of Hal Steinbrenner’s checkbook were popping through her head during the fourth course soup.
Mark Teixeira’s wife Leigh nudged hubby toward Yankees [Daily News]
Image [Daily News]