Declaring that the team’s priorities are what matters, Mark Teixeira said he has no problem hitting fifth in the Yankees’ postseason lineup.
“Oh, yeah. That’s fine. It’s all about the team. It’s all about matchups,” Teixeira told The Post before the Yankees’ 9-1 victory over the Red Sox yesterday in The Bronx. “Whatever the lineup is, I’m all for it.”
The Post’s Joel Sherman reported yesterday that manager Joe Girardi is strongly leaning toward moving Robinson Cano to third in the lineup, keeping Alex Rodriguez in the cleanup spot and sliding Teixeira to fifth. Girardi said the switch would be more likely if the Yankees face the Tigers, who figure to start four righties in the ALDS.
Sliding Teixeira to fifth would be a substantial lineup move — the switch-hitting slugger has never started a game for the Yankees in any position in the batting order but the third or fourth spot. Teixeira has a $180 million contract and five years remaining on it after this year. He’s a critical piece to the team, and the Yankees presumably would not want to insult him or make him unhappy.
Nevertheless, Teixeira has a reputation of being a complete professional — as his team-first answer to moving down in the lineup attests — and perhaps that has made Girardi’s decision easier.
Does Teixeira deserve to be slid to fifth? He has struggled for the Yankees in his two playoff stints, batting .170 (15-for-88) in 22 games with three homers and 23 strikeouts. In fact, Teixeira will go into the playoffs in an 0-for-16 postseason rut, dating back to Game 3 of last year’s ALDS. He went hitless in four ALCS games against Texas before straining his hamstring and missing Games 5 and 6.
mark.hale@nypost.com