Teixeira out indefinitely with significant bone bruise

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to miss at least two weeks after an MRI revealed a significant bone bruise on his ailing right leg.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters prior to Tuesday's game against Boston that Teixeira hasn't improved "at all" since his original diagnosis, and the club expects him to be sidelined for "an extended period of time."

"I just hasn't been healing in any way, shape or form," Cashman said. "The biggest concern right now is when will this thing heal, and I don't have any answer on that."

Teixeira, who's missed 11 of the last 13 games, will use crutches for the next few days in an effort to allow the deep bone bruise time to heal, said manager Joe Girardi. The veteran slugger is hitting .255/.357/.548 with a team-leading 31 home runs in 111 games this season.

Tuesday's news is potentially devastating for the wild card-leading Yankees, who entered Tuesday trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games in the American League East.

Rookie Greg Bird has performed solidly in Teixeira's absence, posting a .721 OPS with two homers in 16 games. Girardi has also indicated the Yankees could use Alex Rodriguez at first base in an emergency, especially against left-handed pitching.