TORONTO – The Yankees put Mark Teixeira on the 15-day disabled list Saturday morning because of the right hamstring strain he suffered Friday, meaning the team will play without the first baseman they hoped would provide offense in the middle of their lineup.
Kelly Johnson, projected as the Yanks’ third baseman, moves across the diamond to start at first base for the foreseeable future, Joe Girardi said.
“It’s a big impact,” Girardi said of Teixeira’s loss. “You’ve got a switch hitter in middle of the order, break up your lefties. You’re also talking about taking out a very productive bat and a very good first baseman.
“But we’re going to have to live without it for a while.”
Teixeira will undergo a battery of tests Monday when the team is back in the Bronx, Girardi said. Catcher Austin Romine was recalled from Triple-A Scranton to replace Teixeira for Saturday’s game but it’s unclear whether that’s a longer-term move.
Teixeira, who missed most of last season with a wrist injury, hurt his hamstring Friday night in the Yankees’ 7-3 victory over Toronto when he pursued a ball in foul territory. Afterward, he said it did not feel too bad, but seemed resigned to some idle time.
“We don’t think it’s a bad strain,” Girardi said. “But we felt this was in the best interests of him and us to put him on the DL. This way, he doesn’t keep testing it, making it worse.
“It doesn’t feel terrible, but it’s definitely still there,” the manager added. “There’s an issue.”
Johnson’s backups at the position likely will include Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna, who were both in the lineup at other infield spots Saturday. Francisco Cervelli might backup first, too. Asked if Brian McCann or Alfonso Soriano might see time at first, too, Girardi said, “I’ll probably stay away from that.”
Russ Canzler could be a future option to come up from Triple-A, but he’s not on the 40-man roster and the Yanks’ 40-man is full, meaning they’d have to clear a spot for him.
Girardi said he has faith in Johnson, who has played four career games at first.
“I’m comfortable with him really anywhere because I think he’s shown he’s adaptable,” Girardi said. “He was a shortstop originally. I don’t expect him to be Mark Teixeira, know all the ins and outs, but he’ll figure it out.”
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