I don't know how it happened, but it happened. According to multiple sources, the Yankees and free agent Mark Teixeira have agreed to a contract worth $180M over eight years:
Teixeira's deal is for eight years and $180 million — a sum that would push the Yankees' off-season expenditures past $400 million.
The signing of Teixeira will be a stunning blow to the Red Sox, who had identified the switch-hitting first baseman as their No. 1 target and can not effectively counter the Yankees' move.
The agreement also raises the question of where Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, will place his other free-agent slugger, outfielder Manny Ramirez.
There will be a lot more about this in the days (more like hours) to come, but for right now I'll pass it over to the OTM readers to make judgment. Go for it, ladies and gentlemen.