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Cashman Admits Concerns Over Whether Teixeira Will Return To Yankees This Season

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With each passing day it looks like Greg Bird will be the Yankees' starting first baseman should they make the playoffs.

That's because the news on injured Mark Teixeira is not getting any better.

Teixeira, who leads the Yankees with 31 home runs and is second with 79 RBIs, has had all of three at-bats since fouling a ball off his right shin against Minnesota on Aug. 17.  The deep bone bruise has not improved and Teixeira is still on crutches.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, general manager Brian Cashman said Teixeira received several injections "to try to calm the nerve down because he feels nerve issues up and down the leg when he puts pressure" on it.

The Yankees are understandably concerned. With issues in their rotation and a deficit to make up in the AL East race, they can ill afford to not have one of their best offensive players available for the stretch run.

When asked if Teixeira has possibly played his last game this season, Cashman said "I do wonder."

"It's been a long time and he's still having issues," Cashman added. "I can't predict what's going to happen here. There is a lot of time left ... between now and the end of the season. I just don't know."

While not the power hitter or fielder that Teixeira is, Bird has done a solid job since making his major league debut on Aug. 13, hitting .250 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 80 at-bats.

The Yankees (77-60) entered play Wednesday 1 1/2 games behind first-place Toronto in the division.

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