Teixeira introduced as Yankees defend spending spree

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mark Teixeira said on Tuesday he was elated to join his childhood team as the New York Yankees welcomed the powerful first baseman and defended a free agent spending spree that has reached $423.5 million.

"Pure joy," Teixeira, 28, said about the move, where he will follow boyhood idol Don Mattingly in patrolling first base when he wore the pinstripes of the Bronx Bombers.

The switch-hitting Teixeira, a winner of two Gold Gloves for his defense, batted a combined .308 with 33 homers and 121 RBIs in a season split between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels.

The Yankees enticed the free agent with an eight-year contract worth $180 million having already landed free-agent starting pitchers CC Sabathia (seven years/$161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five years/$82.5 million).

The signings brought jeers from executives of some other clubs, including the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, who claimed the Yankees' financial clout could adversely affect competitive balance in the sport.

Yankees officials noted that with big name players such as Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano finishing their contracts, the 2009 payroll projects to about $20 million less than last year's $212 million.

"We have added a lot this year but we had about $80 million coming off," Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters.

The Yankees said they stumbled into the Teixeira signing, making a late offer after the Red Sox, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles stalled in their negotiations with him.

CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES

New York topped the bids on the table and Teixeira said that was all he needed to hear, since he and his wife had decided the Yankees would be the best place for him.

"The Yankees are going to compete, contend every year," Teixeira said. "The Steinbrenner family have the same goal as me every year and that is to win the championship."

Teixeira said joining the team after they added Sabathia and Burnett made him even more excited.

"Those are two guys I hated to face as a hitter, and most pitchers are going to hate to face the hitters in our lineup," he said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."

Teixeira said he did not fear facing added pressure.

"No one expects more out of me than I do myself. I'm always trying to get better," said the first baseman, who has hit at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of the last five seasons.

"I haven't accomplished anything yet. I don't have a World Series ring on my finger."

Teixeira grew up in Baltimore, but instead of being drawn to Orioles players such as Cal Ripken, Jr., or Eddie Murray, his favorite was Mattingly.

"There was something about Don Mattingly," Teixeira said. "I would go to Orioles games wearing a Yankee cap. The first time I went to Yankee Stadium I was about eight or nine years old and saw Mattingly play. Donnie Baseball was my guy."

Teixeira said he loved playing in the old Yankee Stadium and was sad to see it go, but looked forward to helping the team open its new home across the street in April.

"It will be cool to be the first first baseman in the new Yankee Stadium," he said.

(Editing by Padraic Halpin )