Mark Teixeira tried rest and a cortisone shot two weeks ago in an attempt to fix his injured neck and it didn’t work for long.
He and the Yankees are hoping a similar remedy produces different results this time around, with the first baseman getting another shot on Thursday as he missed his second straight game with neck spasms.
Even Teixeira couldn’t guess what the team will do if this latest shot doesn’t work.
“I have no idea,” he said. “I’m hoping this takes. I’m hoping I don’t have to talk about my neck the rest of the year. That’s the goal.”
Despite the lack of progress, Teixeira agreed with manager Joe Girardi’s assessment that they were optimistic he could avoid a stint on the disabled list and return perhaps on Monday in Toronto after three more days off in Tampa Bay.
“I’ve tried to manage it for a while,” Teixeira said before the Yankees closed out their series against Toronto Thursday in The Bronx. “I can’t move it. It’s painful.”
Teixeira sat out two games earlier in the month and said it felt “pretty good” afterwards.
The medical staff was a “little more aggressive” with the shot on Thursday since there was so little improvement the last time.
“I’ve always dealt with neck and upper-back tightness my entire career,” Teixeira said. “You treat it, but this got to be too much.”
How much the neck has led to Teixeira’s lengthy struggles offensively is something he didn’t want to discuss.
“I’m not gonna make any excuses,” Teixeira said. “If you’re out there, you’ve got to perform. I’ve got to do a better job.”
To make room for Triple-A call-up lefty reliever Richard Bleier on the 40-man roster, the Yankees released former first-round pick Slade Heathcott.
The 25-year-old outfielder had been placed on the SWB disabled list this month.
Heathcott, selected 29th overall by the Yankees in 2009, battled injuries and an alcohol problem throughout his time with the organization before making his MLB debut in May of last season. He played well until being sidelined again with a quad injury.
The loss of Teixeira left Girardi going with backup catcher Austin Romine at first base against Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ in the series finale after using Dustin Ackley on Wednesday versus righty Marcus Estrada.
It was just Romine’s third appearance at first in the majors and he looked fine.
To make room for Alex Rodriguez, Rob Refsnyder was sent back to SWB.