Mark Teixeira misses third straight game with wrist injury

As if the New York Yankees did not have enough to worry about with the bad news they have received in the last couple weeks, first baseman Mark Teixeira is still struggling with a wrist injury.

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What is troubling, of course, is the fact that Teixeira lost most of his 2013 season to a wrist injury. Even still, the Yankees do not believe that this injury is anything serious.

Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York reports the following about the injury:

"If all goes right, Teixeira is expected to return to the Yankees’ lineup when they face the Minnesota Twins in the Bronx on Friday. Teixeira said Dr. Raskin told him in a phone conversation that he is “99 percent” sure the injury is nothing more than inflammation.This is normal residue due to surgery on the wrist that forced him to miss all but 15 games in 2013, Teixeira said."

As far as production on the field goes, injuries have been the only thing to hold Teixeira back from having a vintage season. Through 35 games he is batting .248/.365/.488 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Any concerns about his power coming back have been addressed; now the Yankees just need him to stay on the field.

There are questions abound for the Yankees if they are going to stick as contenders in the American League East in 2014. Besides the issues on their pitching staff, every spot in their infield but first base is a huge question (sorry, Jeter honks). If they are going to be a team that matters, they are going to need Teixeira in the lineup.