January 6, 2009 Teixeira, Yankees seal $180 million deal

NEW YORK (AP) - Mark Teixeira and the New York Yankees have completed their $180 million, eight-year contract.

The deal was agreed to Dec. 23, but both sides had to settle contract language and the first baseman had to pass a physical.

New York has committed $423.5 million on three free-agent additions during the offseason after its streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances ended. On Dec. 18, the Yankees completed a $161 million, seven-year contract with left-hander CC Sabathia and an $82.5 million, five-year deal with right-hander A.J. Burnett.

The Yankees hold baseball's four largest contracts. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has the sport's highest deal at $275 million over 10 years, and shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 10 years.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)