Having missed out on signing free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox have taken steps to hold onto the All-Star first baseman they already have.
The Sox and Kevin Youkilis have a four-year extension in place that will become official when Youkilis passes his physical today, an industry source confirmed. The deal will be worth at least $41.25 million, with a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $6 million in 2009, $9 million in 2010 and $12 million each in 2011 and 2012. The Sox also hold an option for 2013, thought to be worth $14 million, with a buyout of $1.25 million.
The extension puts the right side of the infield under the Sox' control for the near future. Dustin Pedroia signed a six-year extension worth $40.5 million earlier this offseason.
Pedroia was the American League MVP in 2008, with Youkilis finishing third in the voting.
The agreement with Youkilis buys out two free agent seasons for the Red Sox with the potential for a third should they exercise the option for 2013. Had Youkilis gone year-to-year on one-year deals, he would have been eligible for free agency after the 2010 season. It also reduces the team's caseload of potential arbitration-eligible players, leaving only relievers Jonathan Papelbon (who filed yesterday) and Javier Lopez eligible this winter. The agreement with Youkilis comes days before the Sox and first baseman were to exchange arbitration figures on Tuesday. The Sox have never gone to an arbitration hearing since Theo Epstein was named general manager on Nov. 25, 2002.
Youkilis established career highs in virtually every category in 2008, including batting average (.312), hits (168), home runs (29), RBI (115), doubles (43), slugging percentage (.569), total bases (306) and OPS (.958). He led the Sox in homers, RBI, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Among American League hitters, he was third in slugging percentage, fourth in extra-base hits and RBI and sixth in batting average. He averaged an RBI every 4.8 at-bats, the best figure of any qualifier in the AL and was fifth in batting average with runners in scoring position (.374).
Youkilis also set a record for most consecutive errorless games (238) and chances (2,002) for major league first basemen and had a .996 fielding percentage at first. He also played 35 games at third base while teammate Mike Lowell battled thumb and hip injuries.
It was Youkilis' flexibility and ability to play third that enabled the Sox to bid for Teixeira, with the idea of moving Youkilis permanently back to third with Lowell being dealt away. But the Sox were outbid by the New York Yankees, who signed Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million deal on Dec. 23.
Shortly after locking up Pedroia long term, the Sox turned their attention to signing Youkilis. Negotiations picked up steam in recent weeks before being finalized yesterday.
With Jed Lowrie expected to start at shortstop, the Sox can now boast of three home-grown players in their infield, all of whom are under the team's control for a minimum of the next four seasons.
- smcadam@bostonherald.com
