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Former All-Star Teixeira didn't enjoy free agency: 'There's a lot of stress'

Jenny Anderson / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

In 2009, former All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira inked his one and only free-agent contract - an eight-year, $180-million deal with the New York Yankees - and was happy to avoid hitting the open market throughout the rest of his playing career.

"The free-agent process was not fun at all," Teixeira, who's now an analyst for ESPN, told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports. "I was glad I was only a free agent one time. It was a tough time. There’s a lot of stress.

"I knew I was going to sign a long-term contract, so you're basically making a decision that you’re locking you and your family up for eight years to a city. I had never won a championship, so you want to put yourself in the best position to win one, pick the right team and the right city.

"The hard part is that everybody has their thoughts. Everybody has their advice. From the time the season ended to announce my signing with the Yankees, I had to answer questions from my friends, family, fans, and people in the grocery stores and on the streets."

Despite the stress, it seems Teixeira made a pretty good decision. During his eight years in New York, the slugger hit 206 home runs, posted an .822 OPS, earned three Gold Gloves, and won his only World Series title.

Teixeira also offered his thoughts on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the most sought-after players on the open market this offseason.

"These guys have put up numbers, they’re young, and there will be a wide range of offers," Teixeira said. "Some teams will view them as franchise-altering players, but there will be a lot of teams who say, 'I don’t care how young you are, I’m not going to give you an eight- or 10-year contract.'

"What it might come down to for Manny and Bryce is whether they want the years or the AAV (annual average value) in their contract."

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