ANAHEIM — Mark Teixeira’s season isn’t finished … yet.
According to an MRI exam taken yesterday when the switch-hitting first baseman was examined by Dr. Chris Ahmad in New York, Teixeira didn’t tear the sheath that covers a tendon in the right wrist like he did in early March.
Instead, inflammation was found in the wrist and a cortisone shot administered. Manager Joe Girardi said Teixeira would be re-evaluated in a couple of days, but ruled Teixeira out for tomorrow’s game against the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees took the news as a positive, but it doesn’t mean Teixeira will take a few days off and return ready to hit major league pitching.
“If he was to re-tear it that would probably be it for the season,’’ Girardi said of Teixeira, who came off the disabled list May 31 and is hitting .151 (8-for-53) in 15 games which is likely due to not being able to swing the bat with strength from the left side.
Interestingly, once Teixeira resumed playing in major league games the World Baseball Classic insurance policy — he suffered the injury with Team USA on March 5 — which had been paying his $22.5 million salary stopped. Should Teixeira need to go back on the DL, the Yankees would not get relief from that insurance policy.
The WBC insurance policy saved the Yankees $7.38 million.
Girardi said Lyle Overbay, who started at first against Angels righty Jered Weaver during the Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the Angels yesterday, will take over for Teixeira.
“My plan is to put Overbay at first base. We are going to see some lefties against the Dodgers when we get home, but my plan is to put him at first base,’’ Girardi said of Overbay, who is hitting .164 (9-for-55) against lefties.
Girardi wasn’t sure how long he could go without putting Teixeira on the DL and said that will be discussed today, a dark day on the Yankees’ schedule.
“He is not on the DL right now, I am sure we will talk about a plan of action [today],’’ Girardi said.
After Saturday’s 6-2 loss, hitting coach Kevin Long said Teixeira was only bothered swinging from the left side. Would Girardi think about using Teixeira as strictly a right-handed hitter, perhaps in a platoon with Overbay or a full-time right-handed hitter against all pitching?
“It’s not really what I want to do. I haven’t thought about it. You have to see how the wrist reacts to this rest,’’ Girardi said.
Long said it would be difficult for Teixeira to suddenly have to face right-handed pitchers from the right side.