Kevin Youkilis returned to Boston's lineup last week and he already has a home run and a pair of two-hit games. But he remains a trade candidate given the presence of Will Middlebrooks, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz on the Red Sox roster. Here's the latest on Youkilis…
- There’s a feeling other teams would be interested in Youkilis, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). The 33-year-old isn’t the player he once was, so the Red Sox would likely have to contribute toward his $12MM salary in a trade. One scout says the Red Sox must trade Youkilis because Middlebrooks has as much power as Mark Trumbo of the Angels.
The Sox must trade Youk huh?
Yes, the Red Sox HAVE to trade Youk. He’s in the last year of his contract (club opt in 2013 that is all but certain to NOT be picked up), he is a liability at 3B, when he’s at 1B Agon is a liability in RF, and he’s been injury prone for 3 years. Middlebrooks has shown nothing but power & improvement since his callup. The only reason people want Youk around is because of sentimentality.
Be careful who you call a liability at 3B. We here in Baltimore have been living with Mark Reynolds and Wilson Betemit at third. I’m sure we’d take him off your hands of you HAVE to trade him.
Dylan Bundy oughta get it done.
Lol.
I can’t help but be amused by the typical RS Nation hysteria that’s now reached one the most outstanding players in recent memory. Poor Will Middlebrooks finds himself being the flavor of the Month, the guy who will render Youkilis an afterthought. After a small sample, Milllebrooks is the new Stud in town. Seems as if no one can be slow to heal at Fenway these days.
Seems to me that Youkilis has been an outstanding player forever, been a team player, played hurt, with burning passion and manned his positions in stellar fashion, wherever he’s played. Now we hear that he’s too old, is over the hill and injury prone. The guy even had Valentine question his desire. Talk about adding insult to injury!
The reason this amuses me is that this is bascially the same soap opera that took place two years ago. Only then the names were Ellsbury, Nava and Kalish. In 2010 Ellsbury was hurt and was slow to recover from a rib injury. Then many of the lunatic fans were saying that he was jaking it, that he was ‘soft’, and that he was guttless. Quickly came the cries that he should be traded for some picks, having been hurt the year before, he was ‘injury prone’. Flash forward to 2011 and Ellsbury had a monster year, would and should have been the MVP had the Sox not tanked.
Now we get the ‘trade Youkilis before there’s no value to be had’ type of calls and posts. I would caution all of your RS brethern to wait until Will goes once around the league and he comes down to earth before you chuck Youk. Time will tell, but he can still hit and field, so much that I consider you more of a liability at the keyboard than him at 3B.
Look at my Avatar if you suspect any sentimentality when it comes to Youkilis.
For the most part, I agree with what you’re saying. I can’t believe people were talking about trading Ellsbury when he was down and trading Crawford after his poor first season. YOU DON’T BUY HIGH AND SELL LOW ON YOUR PLAYERS. What kind of business philosophy is that?
Youkilis, however, is a bit different. He is indeed getting older and more injury prone. And he isn’t going to be the third basemen of the future. Will Middlebrooks is here, or even if not 100% ready, should be ready by next year. So if the Sox can trade Youkilis for good stuff in return, now is the time.
Youkilis is the victim of age. Coming out of spring training there was no clamour to trade him, once he got hurt, he got old and injury prone. Were he 23 instead of 33, none of those issues would matter.
Now Middlebrooks is a player, but I’m not about to annoit him my 3B after 25 games, and trade away a very capable player. Especally when I know I’m not getting equal value in return.
I give you Ike Davis, Peter Bourjos and Justin Smoak as examples of fast starters that have fallen to earth.
Doesn’t mean it will happen with Middlebrooks, but I don’t trade Youkilis for the sake of making a trade at this point.
You don’t trade Youk for his return, you trade him to save some money & get a marginal player or two in return so you can flip him/them in a future trade or use them for a past trade as the PTBN.
Besides, you’re missing the point entirely. You can’t just come in here and say Youk is this & WMB is that. Because what they are is an expiring (and expensive) veteran contract & the organization’s #1 prospect. WMB is, for now, the future 3B and because of it, Youk is expendable, especially when you have to play Agon out of position just to get Youk his ABs.
You clearly no little of the business of baseball. The #1 prospect in your organization comes up & immediately pays dividends & the injured player that caused his early call-up has missed over 120 games since 2010 because of constant injury and you brush that off? Furthermore, Youk’s contract expires after this season & the Sox (who are desperate for salary relief in the wake of numerous bad signings by their former GM, Epstein), can save over $13 million by not picking up Youk’s 2013 club option.
When you pander too much on what a player used to be worth on not what he is currently worth, you call yourself the Mets or Cubs.
PS: Sure, Ellsbury was amazing in 2011, but if all the Sox are going to get out of him in a 3 year span is 1 year on the field & 2 years on the DL, why not trade him? Why pay him $8.5 million a season to spend more time with trainers than coaches?
Can’t win in 2012 because of what you did 5 years ago, if you could, I’m sure Posada would still be your catcher…
It’s possible that I don’t know the business of baseball,but I do know the game. I also know how to use common sense. I recognize a valid argument and when to agree to disagree.To your mind set your ‘future’ 3B is now and your former is gone, even if it’s only after 25 games.I get that.
I can also see that in your haste to give WMB the job, instead looking to solidify the team, you brought up the contract issue. Yes, Youkilis’ contract next year is expensive, and the Sox are looking to
save money. No doubt that his option would be great if it could be
avoided, but in reality, that’s a bit disingenuous on your part.
We both know that there’s lots and lots money coming off the books
next year. The Red Sox have a number of players making big bucks
who have been a lot less productive then Youkilis and are not coming back next year!
Your statement about flipping him for a PTBL is basically giving him away for the sake of expediency. Even I know that’s not good BaseBall business.
I also agree with the Yankees fan. If Middlebrooks proves to be this good all season, that’s another story. Otherwise he has a long way to go to prove to me he’s anything like Youk is/was.
“I can’t help but be amused by the typical RS Nation hysteria that’s now
reached one the most outstanding players in recent memory”
This majority of sox fanboy-ism started when the band waggoners jumped onboard after the 1st WS win in ’04 and it’s the sad part of being a life long Red Sox fan.. How much (sort of) peaceful it was before when most of those people were at least silent, or limited to the NE area at least.. Now they are seemingly everywhere.. Like termites in rotten wood they came crawling out all at once.
Holding on to a player because he’s big with the fan base. Wow. Phillies did that with Jimmy Rollins and see where that got them.
I can’t stand Youk & think he’s a drama queen. So count me out for being sentimental.
Middlebrooks has shown that he’s still prone to striking out too much and almost never walks (just got his 4th walk yesterday in almost 100 plate appearances), and his power numbers have also already started to regress. He’s got the potential to be a very good player, but he’s got things he still needs to work on, and AAA would be a good place for him to do that, so there’s really no reason to trade Youkilis. Also, Keeping Will around in AAA would give them insurance in case of an injury to someone (if they trade Youkilis and someone gets hurt they are stuck with playing Nick flipping Punto).
I’d keep Youkilis, and it’s not close.
And consequentially you are not a General Manager. I would not trade Youkilis for a couple b level prospects or a LOOGY. But if their is a closer available, a number two or three starter, Or some top level prospects that could play next year, yeah you trade Youkilis.
Unless Youk turns back the clock and starts playing really well again, there is no way you get that in a trade.
Unless there’s that kind of return in it for us, then there is no reason to move him. He’s tearing the ball apart and playing solid 3B since he’s back. No way the Sox sell short on him. They’d rather just not exercise his option next season. It would take at least a 2 or 3 starter to make us move him. Keep in mind he’s a multiple year all-star, finished top-6 in MVP voting twice, and has had a minimum +3.5 WAR each year, even in his “injury” years.
we’ve got lo move forward..let’s trade youk for a good pitcher o an elite prospect
Good luck with that….Unless you guys pick up a lot of that salary and Youk starts playing better.
If the Sox are desperate to part ways with him to give Middlebrooks AB’s and are willing to pickup a nice portion of his contract, I can almost guarantee that the Pirates would be extremely interested in bringing him in to solidify First Base for the remainder of the season. And truth be told, the sooner the better.
inb4 this trade, screencap this
Junichi Tazawa and Youkillis to Pirates for AJ Burnett
AJ Burnett?? You’re kidding right??
Anything is possible, especially with the Sox front office. Hell, who would of thought the trash they dug up. Padilla, Cook, Pod, Byrd…. lol.
What are you talking about? Byrd was a good pick up. His value was as low as it can get when the Sox picked him up. We’ll see how he performs down the road, but I think it’s safe to say that the Sox will get their money’s worth out of Byrd.
Hold on to him an injury to Ortiz, Adrian, or Will could happen at any time. You will not get anything for him because of his injury history.
These days if a guy can hit you want to keep him. So for at least this year hang on to him. The worry is that Adrian gets hurt playing OF.
Here’s the thing though….None of those guys will want to be a bench player right now…
Andrew, to me that’s exactly the problem with “holding onto Youk because someone might get injured”. Because no one would want to be a bench player, the only option is to send WMB down to AAA, or do what they’re doing right now, play AGon in RF, Youk at 1B, and WMB at 3B. But that will only continue until Ross returns from the DL. (I think that Sweeney is back as of today.)
there’s nothing wrong with sending middlebrooks to AAA. it isn’t the best place for him, but he does have plenty to work on
to use one example, brett lawrie smoked the ball way harder and for way longer during his first MLB campaign. he was widely considered untouchable this offseason and a sure bet to be a productive hitter in 2012
except he hasn’t been for the first 200 PA. because that happens with inexperienced players sometimes. he’s still a great young talent and so is WMB. but neither are locks to continue producing right now
if it’s a choice between sending him down or trading youkilis for 50 cents on the dollar, you send the kid down every time
good reference to lawrie.. he hasnt been bad, he just hasn’t been good, the power has been absent.
the scary part is, Lawrie is on pace for a 4-5 war season.. and he hasnt hit yet.
i cant see them trading youk, not even for the fact that his value is low, but because realistically the team is barely performing and still in the thick of things. to trade any depth now, unless its for a bonafide pitcher is just pointless. Its going to be a long summer and sox, rays and yanks need to be ready.
lawrie really hasn’t hit well at all. he’s been about 10% below league average so far. as you said, it’s mostly the lack of power – but he’s also been very impatient. his BABIP is above average
having said that, his defense has been absurd. +7 UZR is one thing, but DRS already has him at +20 in 45 games. that numbers will obviously even out some as the sample increases, but wow
I’d actually argue that AAA would still be the best place for him at this point.
speaking strictly in terms of skill development, sure. but there’s a psychological factor as well. is he going to be focused enough to go down and work on the things that need work? plenty of guys get frustrated or just continue to pound minor league fastballs without improving what needs improvement
That definitely happens, but he has always been praised for being a hard worker, and willing to do/work on anything and everything. When he first came into the system people thought his defense was terrible at 3B and wondered if he was athletic enough to stick there long-term, and he’s made himself into a true plus defender there; he’s been praised for how far he’s already come and how hard he’s worked offensively too.
You could very well be right, but based on his past I personally would give him the benefit of the doubt. I’d put him (personality-wise) in the same category as Lavarnway, who is reportedly making good progress defensively this year in AAA.
LOL at Middlebrooks having as much power as Mark Trumbo. There’s only one player in baseball that hits the ball as far as Trumbo and has as much if not more raw power, and his name is Mike Stanton. Middlebrooks has more David Wright type of power. He’ll definitely hit his fair share of HR’s especially playing in the bandbox called Fenway, but they won’t really be the majestic type.
fenway is not homer-friendly
Amazing the number of people who think it is as well.. Fenway **is** doubles friendly for sure and USED to be HR friendly to flyball style righties before the new pressbox was built..20+ years ago…
Some of these people who think Fenway is HR friendly should question Jim Rice for an opinion on that issue.
I hate how these discussions have gone. The question isn’t ‘What do we do with Kevin Youkilis?’ – it’s ‘What’s the best thing for the continued development of Will Middlebrooks?’ This whole ‘people who want to trade Youk are short-sighted’ thing is a bit silly. I don’t think there’s anything ridiculous about it. With Crawford and Ellsbury back in the fold, would it really kill the Red Sox that much offensively when the money they could save dealing him (even if they get minutia in return) could be thrown back into the budget to deal with another problem area on the team… ?
I don’t think the Red Sox need to be going nuts NOW to deal him and frankly, they might not have to deal him at all, but I don’t see what’s ridiculous about trading him. Even if Middlebrooks is a below-average Major Leaguer the rest of the way, with other pieces coming back, it’s not like the Red Sox lose a lot offensively. They’ve been with him much of the season and their offense has been fine.
I guess it just boils down to: Nice to have him, no rush to trade him, but not altogether necessary to keep him.
Joe Saunders for Youk.
gross
amazing
Someone with a username AZ Sports Blog. You do not trade youk for Joe Blanton, and you don’t trade him for Joe Saunders. Youk for Trevor Bauer and Archie Bradley. Wanna do that.
Yeahhhhh no… Youk will get you a low-tier minor leaguer if the acquiring team picks up his contract, an OK prospect at best if Boston picks up his tab.
You’d be lucky to get a player in the team’s top-20 let alone top 5
I’d prefer to keep him to but if we can get another starter
trade youkilis, franklin morales, and kelly shoppach, the redsox don’t need to trade for anyone they just need people to get healthy, ex. andrew bailey, daisuke, carl crawford, jump dfa mcdonald, repko, and padilla and your’e in pretty good shape
trade him to the reds bring him back home let him win a ring here an retire. he still 4 years younger then rolen ha
All you people who want to keep Youkilis because he’s part of Red Sox legacy or whatever needs to wake up.
GM Cherington has to make the best decision based on trade value, and Red Sox is loaded at both corners, Youkilis is a player they absolutely could and should trade, and should’ve traded last year already.
Any team picking him up will have a first class near-all star first baseman IMO.
Sox have so few quality bats right now, they need Youk. And to those who remind us that Ells, Crawford and Ross will be back, I remind you that none of them will be back before July. So Youk is needed until at least the All-Star break, and maybe right up to the trade deadline. At that point, MAYBE think about a trade, but what the Sox need (OFs, closer) really is coming off the DL, so not sure what the point is. WMB needs a lot of seasoning in terms of fielding, base-running and plate discipline (although he has show some improvement in the latter).
Your argument makes absolutely no sense. Youk plays positions where BoSox are loaded.
They can use another bat, sure. But not on 3rd base or on 1st base. Youk has great trade value right now, Bosox are stupid if they don’t use it.
The only reason for Bosox to hold on to Youk is because they’d listen to sentimental fans who are obsessed with Youkilis, and cannot see that trading him is the smart move.
Actually, the real reason they would hang on to Youkilis is because he’s a better baseball player than Middlebrooks.
The only reason people want them to trade Youkilis is because they are buying into the small sample size hype surrounding Middlebrooks, and are ready to throw one of the best hitters in the game away based on an equally small sample size.
Youk is best at 1st base, where Bosox already have one of the perhaps 2 or 3 best players in A-Gon.
Trading him maximizes his value, and allows Bosox to re-stock its minor league system with perhaps one or two prospects.
Keeping Youk, he’ll play 3rd base where he’s been getting injured. That’s not a smart move.
I don’t buy into any hype surrounding Middlebrooks, that being said his minor league record is just as good or better as Youkilis minor league record was.
The potential is there, no question about it.
But this isn’t about Middlebrooks, it’s about Youkilis not getting to play his natural position, which means he’d better of traded, since other teams see higher value in him.
“Trading him maximizes his value”
if he were producing at his usual ~.400 wOBA, this would be true. he slumped to start the year, though, and has been injured. right now you’d be trading him at the lowest value in his career
How about trading him to the White Sox for Gavin Floyd? I know Gavin hasnt pitched up to his potential so far this season but has had a few good outings. And you never know what a new change of scenery may do for him. Not sure how the money would match up but it would fill a need for Chicago and Boston. White Sox could then trade Matt Thornton to the Nationals for John Lannan. Armchair G.M. in full effect.
Youk in last ten days of May.313.371.531.903
Trade him while his value is high. Also a cancer in the clubhouse.