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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Red Sox looking for quick trade of Youkilis

More than a month remains before the July 31 trade deadline, but a major league source suggested this morning that the Red Sox will jettison embattled third baseman Kevin Youkilis “sooner rather than later.“Several teams have dispatched scouts to watch Youkilis since he returned from the disabled list, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers expressing early interest. Multiple reports last night indicated the Chicago White Sox may have emerged as a frontrunner, especially because they have been using slumping second baseman Orlando Hudson at third.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, appear to have concluded that they’re better off maximizing rookie Will Middlebrooks’ playing time. Youkilis hasn’t played since Wednesday night, and before last night’s game at Fenway Park , Bobby Valentine met with him to explain his decision to keep “riding the hot hand” with Middlebrooks.

“He doesn’t necessarily totally agree with it. He doesn’t wake up in the mornng and hope that’s the case,” Valentine said. “The professional person that Kevin is, he understands it. I think he’s fine.”

Thanks to Geo.

Repoz Posted: June 23, 2012 at 01:52 PM | 65 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Darren

Posted: June 23, 2012 at 02:22 PM (#4164342)

This is just sad. And it seems very premature.

2. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 23, 2012 at 02:31 PM (#4164344)

Agreed.

If the Sox get a good return, hey, good trades are good. If Youkilis actually sucks now, then I guess trade him before he's immovable.

But I have trouble believing the former is likely or that the latter is the case.

3. Koot Posted: June 23, 2012 at 02:33 PM (#4164346)

It's tough to say without seeing what they would get in a trade. However, unless he is going to be a terrible distraction to the clubhouse if he's limited to being on the bench and only starting a couple times a week, I don't get the need to trade him immediately.

4. tshipman

Posted: June 23, 2012 at 02:40 PM (#4164354)

If Youkilis actually sucks now, then I guess trade him before he's immovable.

But I have trouble believing the former is likely or that the latter is the case.

I don't get the need to trade him immediately.

Doesn't the urge to trade him right after he gets off the DL point to the RSox thinking that he isn't very good anymore?

5. Mark Edward Posted: June 23, 2012 at 02:45 PM (#4164358)

I'd happily welcome Youkilis to the White Sox. Brent Morel's back isn't getting any better, and I'm still not sure if he's a legit major league hitter. Orlando Hudson is toast. The Sox got through the first couple months of the season with a poor offense, but now it's really starting to hurt- recently, they've lost games by scores of 1-0, 2-1, 2-1, & 1-0. They've been shut out three times this month. The pitching's fine but John Danks might not return this season, and Floyd & Humber have been erratic at best (and Humber's now on the DL too).

The best thing is the Sox can't possibly give up a decent prospect in the deal because they have no decent prospects to trade!

6. Dag Nabbit has the talking pillow Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:15 PM (#4164378)

If they're looking for someone well-regarded and liked in the clubhouse, I know a certain 36-year-old leftfielder they can get for him.

7. The District Attorney Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:24 PM (#4164385)

If they're looking for someone well-regarded and liked in the clubhouse, I know a certain 36-year-old leftfielder they can get for him.

Your math is off; Bonds is 47.

8. Rennie's Tenet Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:38 PM (#4164390)

Number of career homers left for Youkilis' ten most similar hitters through age 32: 187, 117, 91, 7, 5, 4, 2, 1, 1, 0. Moises Alou, Bichette, and Camilli, are the ones who had something left. Brad Hawpe is the zero.

9. DKDC Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:38 PM (#4164391)

If they're looking for someone well-regarded and liked in the clubhouse, I know a certain 36-year-old leftfielder they can get for him.

Unfortunately, Endy Chavez is on the DL, so I don't think he can be traded.

10. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:45 PM (#4164395)

I'd happily welcome Youkilis to the White Sox. Brent Morel's back isn't getting any better, and I'm still not sure if he's a legit major league hitter. Orlando Hudson is toast. The Sox got through the first couple months of the season with a poor offense, but now it's really starting to hurt- recently, they've lost games by scores of 1-0, 2-1, 2-1, & 1-0. They've been shut out three times this month. The pitching's fine but John Danks might not return this season, and Floyd & Humber have been erratic at best (and Humber's now on the DL too).

The best thing is the Sox can't possibly give up a decent prospect in the deal because they have no decent prospects to trade!

Youkilis really would make sense on the White Sox. They desperately need someone in the non-Konerko portion of the infield who can be average, or at least non-horrible. Right now the non-Konerkoes have combined for something like -2.6 WAR, and none of them are above replacement. If they could get to average at a non-Konerko position it'd be a vast improvement for this team. Beckham seems a decent bet to be replacementish as the season goes on, and maybe Ramirez too -- I mean, he's not really a .230 hitter, right? Right? -- so a 3B makes sense, and Youkilis is the sort of high-risk high-reward guy that Kenny seems to like.

I can't imagine who the Red Sox would be interested in as a return.

11. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: June 23, 2012 at 03:53 PM (#4164398)

Alexei Ramirez is single handedly killing my weights team. He says he doesn't like the cold weather, so maybe he'll get better soon.

I don't see who the Red Sox would want off this team, either, and for that, I hope he goes elsewhere.

12. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: June 23, 2012 at 04:49 PM (#4164452)

The Braves were scouting Youk over the weekend too, or so says the AJC. He's got to be better than Juan Francisco, right?

13. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: June 23, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4164459)

Echoing 1&2, this feels like a rush. Middlebrooks still has a .383 BABIP, nightmarish K/BB rate and his defense still needs work (though the expectation is that will improve). Youk is a player that gets pointed at as a clubhouse problem but Middlebrooks said this about him in the Herald the other day;

He’s been awesome,” Middlebrooks said. “He’s helped me out so much, man — not just baseball, but off the field, how to handle everything.”

Youkilis does look done, but he doesn't look as done as David Ortiz did 3 years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if Youk performed very well when he got elsewhere.

14. The District Attorney Posted: June 23, 2012 at 05:04 PM (#4164461)

If they're doing things like asking for Gerardo Parra, it ain't gonna be that quick.

15. Flynn Posted: June 23, 2012 at 06:54 PM (#4164488)

Youikilis has now denied there was a conversation. This is really, really weird.

16. karlmagnus Posted: June 23, 2012 at 07:29 PM (#4164498)

This is really, really inept. There should be no leaks until the deal is done. However, this team isn't going anywhere much. Trade Youkilis and Ortiz for as much as you can get in prospects (selling very high on Ortiz) then sign Manny to DH (buying very low.) Result: lots of new blood for 2013, probably quite a bit of money saved and an upgrade at DH and 3B.

17. Jim Furtado

Posted: June 23, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4164500)

I don't agree the Red Sox are done. I also figure Youlilis isn't too enthused with the idea of being on the bench. Trade him now before he becomes a distraction.

18. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: June 23, 2012 at 07:43 PM (#4164503)

Dodgers third basemen, in 2012: 248/314/351/665.

19. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: June 23, 2012 at 07:47 PM (#4164505)

As somebody who watches Youkilis regularly, let me tell you: I think he is done. He's 33 years old, and although he didn't play a lot of MLB baseball at a young age, he has a lot of miles on him. He is not fully healed, and I think pretty much anybody watching him play would agree. He looks heavy and slow. He is not hitting into bad luck or something - he does not look good at the plate.

When he gets to a ball in the field, he still makes the play, and makes a nice, accurate throw to first...but his range is limited.

I love Youk, and he's been a big part of the Sox success over the past many years, but he is done, and he is not somebody who is good at recognizing it, I suspect.

I'm not suggesting Middlebrooks is Middlebrooks Robinson - but he is better than Youk at this point. The REd Sox should trade him to whoever will take him. If you get a useful arm for the bullpen, or maybe a fringe-y infield prospect, I'm OK with that, too. The more we're willing to pay of his remaining salary, the more the receiving team should eb willing to give up - but I don't expect much of a return on Youkilis, in any case.

20. gef the talking mongoose Posted: June 23, 2012 at 07:53 PM (#4164508)

Around midseason last year in my fantasy league I traded him for Andrew McCutcheon.

I see no reason why the Red Sox shouldn't have done the same.

21. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Fielder Posted: June 23, 2012 at 08:16 PM (#4164513)

Trade Youkilis and Ortiz for as much as you can get in prospects (selling very high on Ortiz) then sign Manny to DH (buying very low.) Result: lots of new blood for 2013, probably quite a bit of money saved and an upgrade at DH and 3B.

You want to explain the upgrade at DH part?

22. karlmagnus Posted: June 23, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4164520)

Do I need to? Ortiz has had a hot streak, but there's no reason to suppose it will last for the rest of the season. Manny, on the other hand, is rested and due.

23. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: June 23, 2012 at 08:42 PM (#4164526)

Sounds a lot like Curt Schilling. I bet he has a renewed interest in a steady paycheck.

24. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: June 23, 2012 at 09:16 PM (#4164534)

Someone escort KM back to the ward.

25. Darren

Posted: June 23, 2012 at 09:39 PM (#4164544)

If only there was some way to squeeze Youkilis into the lineup, like if they had a first basemen hitting .256 .313 .392. Nope, they need to dump Youkilis immediately for as little as possible. Keep not playing him and keep leaking how much you want to get rid of him!

26. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Fielder Posted: June 23, 2012 at 10:09 PM (#4164562)

Manny, on the other hand, is rested and due.

So is Barry Bonds. And for that matter, Willie Mays.

27. McCoy Posted: June 23, 2012 at 10:27 PM (#4164569)

Nope, they need to dump Youkilis immediately for as little as possible. Keep not playing him and keep leaking how much you want to get rid of him!

Is Hendry working for the Red Sox now?

28. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: June 23, 2012 at 10:29 PM (#4164570)

Do I need to? Ortiz has had a hot streak, but there's no reason to suppose it will last for the rest of the season. Manny, on the other hand, is rested and due.

It is true - Ortiz has had a hot streak. It's called most of the last 10 years.

If only there was some way to squeeze Youkilis into the lineup, like if they had a first basemen hitting .256 .313 .392.

This is something that continues to get wildly underplayed. Gonzalez has been a complete non-factor this season, and the team is still second in the majors in runs scored. We can ding Cherington for some of his moves, but the complimentary players he acquired this off-season have played extremely well (Sweeney, Ross, Shoppach, Podsednik) have played really well. Trading Scutaro and putting in Aviles has worked out well.The team is letting Nava and Middlebrooks play everyday now, and they are both playing extremely well.

29. Phil Coorey. Posted: June 23, 2012 at 11:14 PM (#4164591)

Youkilis is not on the team next year, that we know, they are are fighting an uphill battle all the way to September and can afford to play WMB even if his luck decreases. It is not something I seem to be getting too upset about - he's not happy there anyway - I hope he does well where ever he goes. I really enjoyed watching his at bats during his prime, I was almost always convinced he would get on base.

I'll never forget the home run he hit off CC Sabathia in Game 5 of the 2007 ALCS - my wife's water broke soon after and she had the twins about 3 hours later - he's a part of our family folklore , that's for sure.

30. boteman Posted: June 23, 2012 at 11:34 PM (#4164602)

Robothal and Morosi have been posting Youk updates on Twitter about every five seconds. Must be an important topic, burning bush category.

31. MC Skat Kat, Weltmeister in Schach Und Boxen Posted: June 23, 2012 at 11:45 PM (#4164609)

I'll never forget the home run he hit off CC Sabathia in Game 5 of the 2007 ALCS - my wife's water broke soon after and she had the twins about 3 hours later - he's a part of our family folklore , that's for sure.

Some might say that he is the real father.

32. Phil Coorey. Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM (#4164618)

Some might say that he is the real father.

Can I post a photo of the girls to prove it?!!!

33. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:21 AM (#4164627)

Trade Youkilis and Ortiz for as much as you can get in prospects (selling very high on Ortiz) then sign Manny to DH (buying very low.)

That line was the tipping point for me.

Right there, that's when I realized that karlmagnus was working one of the longest troll performances I've seen in a while.
He's been working it for so long, and so consistently, that you wouldn't have noticed.

Until now.

Anyone trying to suggest adding Manny (40yr old, .697 OPS in AAA) Ramirez to a roster would be an "upgrade", is just trolling.

34. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: June 24, 2012 at 01:08 AM (#4164635)

Wait, you only figured out karlmagnus is a joke persona NOW?

Hey, while we're at it, did anyone tell you that Jack Keefe is a poorly-executed literary conceit?

35. tshipman

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 01:17 AM (#4164636)

Jack Keefe is a poorly-executed literary conceit

Whoa, there. You may not enjoy it, but the execution is strong. AJ Pierogi? Spelling Mientkiewicz perfectly? It's pretty well-executed.

36. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: June 24, 2012 at 01:40 AM (#4164645)

The Hall of Merit still hasn't realized it, the guy was consistently either the first or second furthest from the consensus. KM is the greatest troll in BTF history, and inveigled himself into every nook and cranny.

edit: No, I don't think he trolled the HoM, I just think he's Dan Duquette.

37. Nasty Nate Posted: June 24, 2012 at 03:02 AM (#4164648)

What % of very good players who are under 35 that are deemed "done" on BBTF are actually not done, and just victim of SSS? 80%? 90%? 95%? 99%?

38. Boxkutter Posted: June 24, 2012 at 03:47 AM (#4164651)

...and can afford to play WMB even if his luck decreases.

WMB? I like that nickname. Weapon of Mass BABIP!

39. boteman Posted: June 24, 2012 at 04:24 AM (#4164655)

Some might say that he is the real father.

Can I post a photo of the girls to prove it?!!!

If Youkilis really is the father, PLEASE DON'T!

40. Phil Coorey. Posted: June 24, 2012 at 06:19 AM (#4164658)

Weapon of Mass BABIP!

Brilliant!

41. Lassus Posted: June 24, 2012 at 08:33 AM (#4164670)

Hey, while we're at it, did anyone tell you that Jack Keefe is a poorly-executed literary conceit?

Eso, emulating Ray and the Grumpazoids is not a good plan.

42. Mattbert Posted: June 24, 2012 at 09:20 AM (#4164675)

Some might say that he is the real father.

Youk, I am your father.

43. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: June 24, 2012 at 09:40 AM (#4164679)

What % of very good players who are under 35 that are deemed "done" on BBTF are actually not done, and just victim of SSS? 80%? 90%? 95%? 99%?

Most players - including most really good players - are cooked at age 35 or earlier. Other players born the same year as Youkilis:

Ryan Howard
Johan Santana
Byung-Hung Kim

Of course, Adrian Beltre and Adam Dunn were also born the same year as Youkilis, and both of them sure looked done at various times...and have come back to perform at a very high level.

Keeping it all in perspective: There are 317 players who have appeared in the big leagues from Youkilis' birth year. Only 50 are still playing in 2012, and virtually all of those 50 are pretty much done. So, we shouldn't be surprised that a player of Youkilis' age may very well fall off the table at age 33.

44. John DiFool2 Posted: June 24, 2012 at 09:54 AM (#4164680)

Number of career homers left for Youkilis' ten most similar hitters through age 32: 187, 117, 91, 7, 5, 4, 2, 1, 1, 0. Moises Alou, Bichette, and Camilli, are the ones who had something left. Brad Hawpe is the zero.

This is something I noticed way back when Bill James extensively studied aging patterns of ballplayers in (IIRC) the 1987 Abstract: players who get a later start seem to fall off the cliff quicker than those who started younger, even if at their peaks they have the same value as someone who started younger. Youkilis had his first full season at age 27. The Phillies might also be seeing the effects of this with Howard (26) and Utley (26).

45. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:28 AM (#4164683)

@43: What are you getting at there? Of the three guys you list there, Kim was done long before Youk's age. Ryan Howard is out right now but we really don't know if he's done. And Santana, have you see what he's doing this year? (I'd generally leave pitchers out of it though.) For the 50/317 ratio, very few of those guys were as good as Youkilis. They don't seem particularly relevant to me.

You know, it's funny, it was just 6 years ago that the Red Sox were the ones willing to take a chance on Mike Lowell, who had had one horrible year in his early 30s. Today, they appear to be the team willing to jettison a guy who played through an injury at the end of last year and had a start to this season. Nice.

46. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:32 AM (#4164684)

This is something I noticed way back when Bill James extensively studied aging patterns of ballplayers in (IIRC) the 1987 Abstract: players who get a later start seem to fall off the cliff quicker than those who started younger, even if at their peaks they have the same value as someone who started younger. Youkilis had his first full season at age 27. The Phillies might also be seeing the effects of this with Howard (26) and Utley (26).

I wonder why this would be. My guess--it has to do with perception. The guy who comes up at 23 and spends the next 8-10 years excelling is seen as a star. When he starts to lose it, he's bound to get a few chances to recover. When the guy comes up at 27 and is great for 4-5 years then falters, the thought is, 'well, that was a nice fluke while it lasted.'

Edit: Someone ambitious could look at how long each group is allowed to hang around as replacement-level players before not getting anymore chances.

47. Chip Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM (#4164685)

Youks at 3rd batting 6th, Middlebrooks at DH batting 3rd, Ortiz to the bench (for the first time at home this season) in today's lineup.

48. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:46 AM (#4164686)

I wonder why this would be. My guess--it has to do with perception. The guy who comes up at 23 and spends the next 8-10 years excelling is seen as a star. When he starts to lose it, he's bound to get a few chances to recover. When the guy comes up at 27 and is great for 4-5 years then falters, the thought is, 'well, that was a nice fluke while it lasted.'

Alternately, talented guys with flaws in their mechanics take a bit longer to develop, and thus get called up later, and are more prone to losing it altogether over small losses of bat speed or other age-related declines, so thus wash out earlier.

Your theory assumes someone in the scouting department is to blame. Mine assumes most players get the careers they deserve.

49. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:46 AM (#4164687)

So they managed to keep Gonzalez in the lineup? Phew.

50. Chip Posted: June 24, 2012 at 10:54 AM (#4164690)

Also, most ignorant sentence written on this subject so far might have been in this ESPN Boston piece by Joe McDonald overnight:

Youkilis was considered the can't-miss prospect when he first arrived in the majors in 2004 and became a member of the first World Series team for the Red Sox in 86 years.

Seriously? When were the words "can't miss" ever applied to Youkilis during his development days? Despite Moneyball celebrating his minors walk rate, I don't think that label was used on him even once.

51. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 24, 2012 at 11:34 AM (#4164702)

Youkilis never once made the BA top 100. He was barely considered a prospect around baseball, let alone ”can't miss.” I think he was, at his peak, the second or third best position player in the game to go unrated by BA.

52. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: June 24, 2012 at 11:44 AM (#4164708)

My guess--it has to do with perception.

I think it has more to do with the fact that most guys play in the majors pretty much as soon as they're good enough. And the younger you are when you're first good enough to play at an MLB level, the older you're likely to be when you can no longer play at an MLB level. There will always be exceptions -- the guys who could have played in MLB at 22 but were blocked for a couple of years, etc.

53. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: June 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM (#4164710)

And back to the whole trade rumor thing... would dumping Youkilis and using the money to get a pitcher or two really be the dumbest move in the world?

54. bobm Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:28 PM (#4164739)

[46],[52]

134 batters debuted at Age 25 since 1947 (min 130 AB in Age 25 season).

Top 25 sorted by career WAR and grouped for legibility:

                                                                        
Rk              Player WAR/pos From   To   Age    G   PA  OPS        Pos
1         Brian Jordan    30.8 1992 2006 25-39 1456 5646 .788   *978/D35
2        John Valentin    30.6 1992 2002 25-35 1105 4511 .814    *65/43D
3       Kevin Youkilis    29.2 2004 2012 25-33  952 3970 .874   *35/7D49
4           Mark Ellis    25.7 2002 2012 25-35 1163 4736 .728    *4/6D53
5            John Kruk    23.1 1986 1995 25-34 1200 4603 .842    *379/D8

6    Mark Grudzielanek    21.9 1995 2010 25-40 1802 7603 .725     *46/5D
7         Bill Mueller    21.8 1996 2006 25-35 1216 4886 .797     *5/4D6
8          Ben Zobrist    21.6 2006 2012 25-31  670 2744 .784  496/873D5
9          Rusty Greer    20.5 1994 2002 25-33 1027 4420 .865    *79/8D3
10            Al Smith    18.4 1953 1964 25-36 1518 6173 .787    975/864

11          Eric Young    17.0 1992 2006 25-39 1730 6996 .749  *47/D8695
12        Brendan Ryan    13.0 2007 2012 25-30  602 2052 .644    *6/4597
13           Irv Noren    12.7 1950 1960 25-35 1093 3505 .758      879/3
14         Jimmie Hall    12.5 1963 1970 25-32  963 3167 .755      879/3
15         Jim Hickman    11.5 1962 1974 25-37 1421 4536 .760    9837/51

16        Hector Lopez    11.0 1955 1966 25-36 1450 5178 .745   7549/863
17            Don Lock    10.9 1962 1969 25-32  921 3116 .748     *87/93
18         Bobby Knoop    10.7 1964 1972 25-33 1153 4004 .630       *4/5
19        Tom Brookens     9.9 1979 1990 25-36 1336 4258 .663 *546/D9382
20         Eddie Kasko     9.0 1957 1966 25-34 1077 3881 .648      *65/4

21         Dick Howser     8.6 1961 1968 25-32  789 2937 .664      *6/45
22        Charlie Neal     8.4 1956 1963 25-32  970 3754 .723       *465
23        Mike Lansing     8.3 1993 2001 25-33 1110 4551 .725       *465
24      Erubiel Durazo     8.2 1999 2005 25-31  624 2291 .868       D3/9
25        Mike Aldrete     8.0 1986 1996 25-35  930 2498 .733    379/D81

55. bobm Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:36 PM (#4164741)

The above 25 batters who debuted at Age 25, sorted by PA accumulated from Age 33-

                                                              
Rk              Player   PA From   To   Age   G  OPS       Pos
1           Eric Young 3180 2000 2006 33-39 795 .730 *47/D8695
2    Mark Grudzielanek 2923 2003 2010 33-40 705 .751     *4/6D
3         Brian Jordan 2495 2000 2006 33-39 660 .757   *97/3D8
4          Jim Hickman 1799 1970 1974 33-37 523 .853    39/875
5             Al Smith 1795 1961 1964 33-36 499 .786     95/78
6         Tom Brookens 1343 1987 1990 33-36 409 .661  *5/46D93
7         Hector Lopez 1232 1963 1966 33-36 422 .705  *79/3845
8         Bill Mueller 1176 2004 2006 33-35 292 .800      *5/4
9           Mark Ellis 1165 2010 2012 33-35 293 .692     *4/D3
10        Mike Aldrete  496 1994 1996 33-35 217 .706   /379D81
11           John Kruk  489 1994 1995 33-34 120 .810      /*3D
12           Irv Noren  416 1958 1960 33-35 228 .744     /7983
13         Eddie Kasko  384 1965 1966 33-34 126 .590     /*654
14        Mike Lansing  382 2001 2001 33-33 106 .677      /*64
15       John Valentin  350 2000 2002 33-35 144 .683    /6534D
16         Rusty Greer  219 2002 2002 33-33  51 .733     /D793
17      Kevin Youkilis  161 2012 2012 33-33  41 .670      /*53
18         Bobby Knoop  107 1972 1972 33-33  44 .588      /*45

Obviously Youkilis, Ellis, Zobrist, and Ryan being active players near or below age 33 affects the data set, but it's not as if the Age 25 rookies are outstanding as a class to begin with.

56. Chip Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:41 PM (#4164744)

Youks' injury history does not inspire confidence that he's going to be one of the handful of long-lasting outliers in that group.

57. bobm Posted: June 24, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4164745)

Batters debuted at various ages since 1947 with min 130 AB in first season:

(Players who had a cup of coffee in their first season are by definition excluded from the above.)

58. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 24, 2012 at 04:50 PM (#4165006)

Ken Harrelson just said that Youkilis was pulled from the game in the seventh inning, and was greeeted with hugs in the dugout. So he gone.

59. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: June 24, 2012 at 04:58 PM (#4165032)

WEEI in Boston reporting that his name plate has been taken off his locker.

I have read surprisingly little throughout this process about what the return is expected to be.

60. bobm Posted: June 24, 2012 at 04:58 PM (#4165034)

From Twitter;

Rob Bradford
@bradfo

Clubhouse source says Youkilis traded to White Sox. Nameplate is gone

Rob Bradford
@bradfo
Boston
WEEI.com Site Editor/Red Sox beat writer/Occasional Author

61. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 05:02 PM (#4165042)

[tears]

62. Chip Posted: June 24, 2012 at 05:03 PM (#4165047)

Zach Stewart "one of the names" coming back, says Nick Cafardo, which means some part of that is almost certainly wrong.

63. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 05:07 PM (#4165055)

Youks' injury history does not inspire confidence that he's going to be one of the handful of long-lasting outliers in that group.

But him being at the very top of the list in WAR bodes well.

64. Darren

Posted: June 24, 2012 at 05:09 PM (#4165060)

WHHHYYY???

65. Dan Posted: June 24, 2012 at 05:12 PM (#4165065)

So the Red Sox traded him for a replacement level arm while also playing the freight. Why was this preferable to keeping him around in a job sharing arrangement?

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Red Sox looking for quick trade of Youkilis

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