Youk In Pinstripes? Yankees Reportedly Offer $12 Million, One-Year Deal
September 21, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (20) fields a ground ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
With Alex Rodriguez heading for another hip surgery for a torn labrum on his left hip and backup Yankee third baseman Eric Chavez signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees reportedly have offered former Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis a one-year, $12 million contract. ESPN, The New York Times and other media sources broke the news yesterday afternoon.
After an unusually quiet winter meeting week in Nashville, New York’s hand is being forced to secure the services of a quality veteran third baseman as they are facing the prospect of A-Rod being sidelined until June, possibly longer if his rehab doesn’t go as planned. The deal makes even more sense given that one of the last remaining third basemen the Yankees were looking at, infielder Jeff Keppinger, apparently reached an agreement on a three-year, $12 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. Keppinger’s in, Youk would have been the odd man out and the Yankees badly needed to fill a hole. Last year in a split season with Boston and the White Sox, Youkilis hit .235 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs.
To be certain, it looks like Youk’s gritty all out play is finally catching up with him as he looks for what may be one of his last pay days. Both his average and power numbers are down as are walks for a guy who was once one of the game’s greatest grinders at the plate. Loved Youk in Boston and will hate it when he comes to Fenway in an attempt to rake his old mates over the coals.
Living these days is making me nervous
Archaic doctrine no longer serve us
Now we’re left as silent witnesses
We don’t know quite what this is
Other than a war that can’t be won
Tension
Too much to mention
Living on both sides of the gun
– Both Sides Of The Gun, Ben Harper