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Nats, Os Lose Teixeira Sweepstakes

Teixeira agrees to $180M Yankees deal

By RONALD BLUM

| Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008 | Updated 5:51 PM EST

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Mark Teixeira tries to get out Jed Lowrie of the Boston Red Sox after catcher Mark Napoli tried to catch Lowrie leading off during Game Four of the American League Championship Series on Oct. 6, 2008, at Fenway Park in Boston.

NEW YORK -- Like that last Nintendo Wii on the shelves at the local Best Buy or Circuit City, Mark Teixeira proved too far out of reach for either the Washington Nationals or the Baltimore Orioles to give to their fans this Christmas.

The New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday with first baseman Mark Teixeira for $180 million over eight years, sources told the Associated Press.

A person familiar with the negotiations disclosed the agreement, which is subject to a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet final.

Teixeira's deal raises the Yankees' offseason spending spree to $423.5 million. Just last Thursday, the Yankees completed agreements with two pitchers, giving CC Sabathia a $161 million, seven-year contract and A.J. Burnett an $82.5 million, five-year deal.

The Yankees, preparing to move into their pricey new ballpark, will hold the four largest contracts in the sport. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has baseball's highest deal at $275 million over 10 years, and shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 10 years.

Both the Nationals and the Orioles had made offers to Teixeira.