As Mark Teixeira reported to camp today he was questioned about the idea of a trade involving him for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.

To put it simply, Teixeira made it very clear to forget about it because he is not going anywhere.

"I'm not going anywhere," said Teixiera.  "I've got that no trade for a reason.  I'm going to be buried in pinstripes."

Teixeira signed an eight year, $180 million deal that runs through 2016.

The idea of having Pujols on your team is tremendous, but this is something I don't see happening for the Yankees. 

I love Pujols and his bat, but I'm very confident and content with Teixeira.  Tex is my favorite player in baseball today.  When he is on he has a power bat that is frightening to opposing pitchers and his defense is flawless.  He is easily the best defensive first baseman in baseball.

Aside from that I really don't see Pujols leaving the Cardinals.  He loves it there.  He loves the fans.  The Cards will have enough money and find a way to reach a deal with Pujols to stay in St. Louis.

Teixeira has really embraced playing baseball in New York.  He loves the fans.  He loves the city.  Most of all he appreciates it.  He appreciates the history of the Yankees and the fans that follow the team. 

His quote from today "I'm going to be buried in pinstripes," may one day, in my opinion, go down as one of the most memorable Yankee quotes of all time.  Every Yankee fan I know had a huge smile on their face when they heard that.  I've always loved Tex.  Again, he's my favorite baseball player today, but that quote made me find a whole new love for Mark Teixeira.  As a Yankees fan I was truly touched by it.

I know he'll be here the rest of his contract and if he decides to play longer then I hope he's here for the rest of his career.

This afternoon before leaving for school I turned on twitter and the first thing I see is a tweet from the Kay Show about Andy Pettitte announcing his retirement tomorrow.

At first I didn't want to believe it because it's been a looming thing all offseason, but once other writers like Jack Curry and Marc Carig started tweeting about it that's when it really hit me.

I have been a Yankee fan since pretty much the day I was born, but I didn't get very in tune with my fandom until about 1995.  I've watched Pettitte pitch since day one.

My father took me to my first game in 1998.  He had gotten the tickets through work and I was thrilled he took me along because we really couldn't afford to go to many games.  I remember Bob Sheppard's voice booming Pettitte's name throughout the entire stadium.

When Pettitte left for Houston in free agency I was very upset.  I was happy that he was happy and wanted to be closer to his family, but I was going to miss seeing him pitch every five days.  However I did turn to some friends of mine and said, "He is going to retire in pinstripes.  I guarantee it."  Sure enough three seasons later Pettitte was back in pinstripes and helped the team win another title in 2009.

Here's to you Andy Pettitte.  Thank you for everything.  Coming back to New York really shows how much you truly love playing in pinstripes and for your fans.  I'm going to really miss "the stare."  I'm very happy that you are retiring as a Yankee.  You deserve the best.  I wish you the best in your retirement.

Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio...those are just a few names that are stapled into Yankee fans minds as "legends."  We are witnessing a living legend right now in Yankee world, and sadly some may not even realize it.

Derek Jeter is on a list with these legendary players for a lot of reasons.  It is very rare in recent MLB days that a player stays on one team for their entire career.  Jeter is one of these rarities along side teammates Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.

Say all you want about Jeter's current status as a "declining" shortstop.  He is a living Yankee legend.

There are a lot of sad Yankee fans out there that are already about to give up this season because Cliff Lee wasn't signed and Andy Pettitte hasn't been kidnapped.  I, however, am extremely excited for this season.  Why?  Jeter is about to reach a milestone that no other Yankee has EVER reached.  Not Gehrig, not Ruth, not Mantle, not DiMaggio.  Jeter is about to become the first Yankee to hit the 3,000th hit mark.

Jeter is sitting at 2,926 hits; just 74 away from 3,000.  He could reach his milestone as early as June, July the latest.  Jeter pretty much separated himself from the hitter pack in 2009 when he passed Gehrig for the number one seat in all time Yankee hits, but this will separate himself even furthur since no Yankee has ever reached 3,000 hits.

Jeter also sits on other all time Yankee leader lists close to the top.  He is in third in all time runs scored with 1,685 (Ruth 1,959 and Gehrig 1,888), second in all time doubles with 468 (Gehrig 534), and is in second in all time stolen bases with 323, just three SB's behind Ricky Henderson.  Jeter is also 107 games away from playing the more games than Mickey Mantle, who has played the most in franchise history. 

I hope he gets the big hit at a home game, because I want to be able to tell my future children about how I witnessed the great Yankee Derek Jeter separate himself from all Yankee hitters in the history of the franchise.  I want to take them to monument park in the future to show them the Jeter plaque and tell them how amazing it was watching him play every day growing up a Yankee fan.

Derek Jeter may never be considered a "Major League Baseball legend," but he will always be a Yankee legend.  He is a leader and a great player, and when that day comes of his retirement, and when they retire number 2 to monument park, my eyes will be filled with tears.  Tears of joy as I contemplate on all of the years growing up a Yankee fan and watching one of the greatest in the history of the club.

My grandparents had Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, and DiMaggio.  My father had Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson.  I will always have Derek Jeter.

The future of Jesus Montero was a topic of discussion among the Yankees organization this week.

Back in July, the Yankees were willing to give up their top catching prospect for a chance to trade for Cliff Lee.  If Montero improves his defense and proves he can provide the work load, then he could possibly be catching Lee next season with the Yankees.

Spring training is where he will need to win the job over Yankee veteran catcher Jorge Posada.  The 39-year old is on his final year and although his bat is still alive, his defense has started to wilt.  Montero would fit at the starting catcher and Posada as the DH.

If Montero proves himself, he could be catching 90-100 games during the season with Posada and Francisco Cervelli doing the back-up job. 

There is also talk about Austin Romine, the Yankees other catching prospect.  He will be moved to Triple-A this season and if he steps up they may consider bringing him up mid-season to replace Cervelli.

In the first press conference after the ALCS loss to the Rangers that eliminated the Yankees from the postseason, GM Brian Cashman was asked about the status of Montero.  He was mostly asked whether or not Montero was ready.

"He's going to have to prove that.  He's an exceptionally talented person, but potential means you haven't made it yet.  Nothing gets handed to somebody, " said Cashman.

Although with a slow start in the 2010 season, Montero had a batting average of .289 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI's in 123 games in Triple-A.