September 1, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (20) sits in dugout during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The sky is now red, the Earth is now cubed, fish walk upright on two legs and the French are victorious on the field of battle. Kevin Youkilis is now a New York Yankee. It’s sports, ye faint of heart, these things happen and happen often. The fans of the pinned and striped have little choice but to accept the soon-to-be-unbearded one as their own. To deny him is now treason. But after the shock and denial and anger and bargaining and acceptance, there remains one final essential question to be asked and then answered, one ultimate test that must be passed. The trial, the inquiry, is this: Is Kevin Youkilis too sweaty to be a New York Yankee?

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Youkilis, of course, spent seven seasons playing for the rival Boston Red Sox, winning two World Series titles in Boston. He becomes the seventh member of the curse-breaking Red Sox team of 2004 to eventually don the pinstriped home whites of the hated Yankees.

Youkilis can’t wear his trademark goatee in New York, so he may reprise the lip sweater worn last season. Image: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

In terms of practicality, however, these two are a match made in heaven.

Alex Rodriguez will undergo surgery to correct a torn labrum in his left hip, but that procedure won’t even take place until mid-January. The recovery time is expected to be 4-6 months and there are concerns that Rodriguez won’t be able to handle third base duties upon his return, at least not every day.

While Youkilis is not an elite defender at the hot corner, he represents the best possible alternative for the injured ARod, at least at this point given what’s left of the third base market. That they got him on a one-year deal is also important and New York probably overpaid in order to get Youk to take the single year. Reports had the Indians offering a two-year contract, but for only $18 million in total. That offer vanished when the Indians opted to sign Mark Reynolds over the weekend.

With the Indians no longer interested, the decision became pretty clear for Youkilis, as there were precious few teams seeking a regular at either first or third base. The Marlins had interest, but rumor has it that Youkilis refused to even speak to the beleaguered franchise.

Instead, he’ll take the one-year deal and hope to put together a better season than his 2012 campaign that saw him struggle, especially prior to being traded from Boston to the White Sox. Overall, the former eighth round pick posted an OPS of just .745 last season, better than 100 points lower than his career OPS of .867.

If he can manage to stay on the field and play adequate defense, Youkilis will keep the Yankees afloat and give them professional at bats. Youkilis will be 34 before Opening Day, so there’s little reason to think his slide last season was much more than a bad year. He’ll probably never again be the hitter he once was, but it’s probably a safe assumption that he has more left than he showed last year. If he can prove that, Youkilis could set himself up for one last multi-year contract on the market next Winter.

Last weekend I was sitting in the stands at a college basketball game with a friend who is a Yankees fan (I am tolerant and do have such friends), and he turned to me and said that he thinks the Yankees might finish last in the American League East next season. Whoa. That had not crossed my mind, perhaps because I am so used to the Yankees having the wherewithal to overcome any challenge and still make the playoffs, even if they don’t actually win the division, which they usually do. (more…)

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

A couple of days ago, the Yanks talked with Youk’s agent, and it is likely a two-team race between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Youkilis could end up staying in the AL Central instead of going back to the AL East, because the Indians have been showing a high amount of interest in Youk. His value has shot up ever since Marco Scutaro and Jeff Keppinger were taken off the market, so it will be interesting to see what his market value is.

There are rumors that the Yankees might not be willing to give the 33-year-old as much as other teams. The Yanks and Indians aren’t the only two teams who have offered Youkilis, and he has reportedly received a multitude of one-year deals and multi-year deals.

It seems like Youkilis will only accept a one-year contract if the money is substantial, and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com has reported that the Yankees have given Youkilis a one-year deal worth $12 million.

The question is, will the Indians match that offer assuming they are also interested in giving Youk a one-year deal? Better yet, is Youkilis willing to go to a rival team?

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

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Curry adds that Youkilis is reportedly willing to take just a one-year deal, provided the money is at a high price. It seems like Brian Cashman is one of those GMs who isn’t adverse to paying premium for one year and would much rather do that than tie up a few years into one player. Handing out big short-term money isn’t a problem for the Yankees, but getting into a bad situation over a few years is not ideal for any team in this league.

All the Yankees want or need in this situation is a one-year deal given to Youk, but I think $6 million is the maximum at this point. Youk had an average season in 2012 with the Red Sox and White Sox, as he was just one home run away from 20 and managed to draw enough walks to bump up a .235 batting average to a .336 OBP.

The Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies have also shown interest in Youkilis, with the White Sox also showing a desire to re-sign the veteran corner infielder.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

The first thing that jumps out is Youkilis’ history with new Indians manager Terry Francona. Youk played under Tito from 2004-2011 in Boston, winning a pair of World Championships together. There isn’t much chance for uniting for a third on the shores of Lake Erie, at least not anytime soon, but Youkilis would make the Indians a better club right away.

Youkilis is a possibility in Clevaldn, but also Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

Cleveland is in dire need of a right handed bat, which Youkilis happens to provide. They need a first baseman or a third baseman, or even a designated hitter. Youkilis has extensive experience at both corner infield positions and could even play left field (another problem area for the Tribe) in a pinch.

If it’s such a perfect fit, why shouldn’t the two sides come to a deal?

Well, even though Youkilis is on the downside of his career, he’s still the best third baseman on the open market. That says more about the market than it does about Youkilis, however. Nevertheless, it’s likely that Youk will get a multi-year deal and could find someone willing to give him $8-10 million per year. That kind of money might ordinarily price him out of Cleveland, but with Francona on board, you wonder if the Dolan family will be reaching a little deeper into their pockets than they have in years past.

There is also the matter of the club needing to decide what direction they are going. Cleveland is getting bombarded with phone calls from rival clubs asking about most of the Indians’ top players. Asdrubal Cabrera would be the best available shortstop should Antonetti decide to shop the switch-hitter. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and starter Justin Masterson are both known to be coveted by the Red Sox and one can assume many other clubs as well. Closer Chris Perez is also certain to draw trade interest.

All of those players are still well within the primes of their careers and, apart from Perez, a trade would surely signal another rebuild for the Tribe. Perez is likely to be dealt either way after many public comments that disparaged the team and the fans.

No matter the level of interest, I can’t imagine Francona would have signed on to a complete rebuild, so unless there are offers that simply cannot be refused, I’d have to think Antonetti plans to keep all or most of his better major league players. A signing of Youkilis would seem to reinforce that idea as well, as Youk will have suitors closer to contention.

July 16, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (20) waves to the crowd during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

All and all, that resulted is a disappointing season that saw Youkilis hit a career low .235 with 19 home runs, 60 RBI, and a .745 OPS.

By declining their option on Youkilis, the White Sox are allowing him to explore free agency. While the White Sox will maintain tabs on the 34-year-old Youkilis, there is another team that could likewise do that same.

The Boston Red Sox.

Now, Boston jettisoned Youkilis because of both the rise of Will Middlebrooks, who will most definitely be the starting third baseman for the Red Sox when camp breaks at the end of March, and due to his mercurial relationship with Bobby Valentine, who himself was sacked at the end of the season. However, things have changed a bit in Boston since Youk was voted off the island.

For one, Bobby Valentine is gone, which was more than justified by his struggles to work with his players. Secondly, the team traded Adrian Gonzalez, along with Josh Beckett, Nick Punto, and Carl Crawford to Los Angeles, opening up a spot at first base in 2013.

It just so happens that Youkilis was a Gold Glove (for what its been proven worth) first baseman with the Red Sox in 2007, prior to making the shift back over to third base to make room for Gonzalez. Is it absolutely out of the question to envision the Red Sox bringing back Youkilis on a club-friendly deal and sticking him at first base, either as a starter or in a platoon? Not at all. The option of Youkilis at first base is tremendously more appealing to the bringing back James Loney or any of the other available free agents.

Youkilis was a .287 career hitter for Boston prior to 2012, so one would have to envision that he is capable of a rebound season. Putting him in a position that would be less stressful on his back and knees would surely aid in that. Even if Youkilis was only able to approximate his 2011 season, where he put together a slash line of .258/.373/.833, that would be more than serviceable for the coming season.

Regardless of his relationship with Valentine, Youk was also a fan favorite with a reputation of being a gutty player who left it all out on the field. Any contract with Youkilis would still be at a reasonable enough rate that it would not prevent the club from making other moves or deterring from the rebuilding path they are currently on.

There will be some naysayers who believe Youkilis’s role as one of the malcontents on the team should prevent him from being a part of the immediate future of the club. However, in a season ruled by malcontents, both in the line-up and in the coach’s office, it is tough to saddle him for life with that label.

This team has made much poorer decisions than this.

Peavy will anchor the staff for the Pale Hose for two more years. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

New ChiSox GM Rick Hahn inked the all-star and former NL Cy Youngwinner to a new two-year, $29 million deal that takes the place of Peavy’s one-year option. Peavy will still get the $4 million buyout he would have been paid had Chicago officially declined the option as well, so the total value is actually more like $33 million.

“I’m really excited to come back to Chicago and build on what we did last year,” Peavy said in a statement issued by the team. “I made no secret of the fact that this is where I want to play. Chicago is a great city with great fans, and I can’t think of a better place to try and win a championship. With the guys we have coming back, I think we have a great opportunity to accomplish some special things.”

It seems like he’s been around forever, but Peavy is still just 31 years old and re-established himself as one of baseball’s better pitchers in 2012 after a long recovery from a detached latissimus dorsi muscle in 2010.

In other moves, Chicago picked up the $9.5 million option on fellow starter Gavin Floyd, while declining options on reliever Brett Myers and third baseman Kevin Youkilis. Myers will get $3 million in a buyout instead of what would have been a $10 salary for next year. Youkilis’ option was for $13 million and he’ll take home a $1 million buyout instead.

The White Sox will attempt to re-sign Youkilis to a lower-salaried deal. After being run out of town in Boston, Youkilis rebounded to post a .771 OPS in a half-season’s worth of games on the Southside. He’ll be 34 before Opening Day, however, and even in hitter-happy US Cellular Field, the days of Youk being a middle-of-the-order power threat are probably gone. He still gets on base at a high rate, can find the gaps with decent regularity, and plays capable defense, however, so a two-year deal with an option would probably work well for both sides.

For me the 2012 season started to take a wrong turn when Boston decided that it didn’t want Terry Francona back as manager. Another zag occurred when management let closer Jonathan Papelbon go in free agency. Then we learned that Carl Crawford would not start the season in left field because of injury.

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Over the weekend Youkilis was traded to a team that can use him and use him right now. No more worries about playing time. No more concerns about having an off day and being subbed for by a rising young player fresh from Pawtucket. The White Sox, who have overall been playing better than expected this season, need Youkilis’ assistance pronto, so the opportunity will be there for him at third base.

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