By the looks of it, the Boston Red Sox are slowly adjusting to having Will Middlebrooks in their lineup as teams have expressed interest in Kevin Youkilis.
As of now, the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are the clubs in the conversation.
In the past two seasons, Youkilis has missed at least 40 games. In 2010 he missed 60 games due to injury.
Youkilis has clearly not been the same player. His specialty has been getting on base.
In the book Moneyball, Billy Beane falls in love with Youkilis because of his abiltity to walk and get on base. We know getting on base is what drives moneyball.
Since getting into the Majors, Youkilis has averaged an on-base percentage of .388.
As of late, the Red Sox have found themselves slumping. They find themselves 5.5 back in the AL East and are tied for last place with the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the Red Sox's performance and expensive payroll, fans want answers and the team has to create change. Unfortunately for Youkilis, he is the weakest link in the lineup.
Magic Johnson and the Dodgers continue to try creating splashes. They already extended Andre Ethier earlier in the season.
Getting Youkilis will help balance the team's lineup and bring a veteran presence into the ballclub.
The Dodgers currently have Juan Uribe and Adam Kennedy platooning at third. They have combined for .225 average, 1HR and 20 RBI.
So far in the season, Youkilis is matching their average, has 4 homeruns and 12 RBI.
As for the White Sox, Brent Morel has been struggling and is currently in the 15-day DL.
Orlando Hudson has taken over the thirdbase duties. He has 2 home runs with 21 RBI but is only hittin .191.
As far as age, Youkilis is 33. Uribe is aso 33 and Kennedy is 36. White Sox's Morel is only 25, so is obviously a talent Chicago is waiting to develop. Hudson is 34.
The Red Sox have Will Middlebrooks to take over the thirdbase duties if Youkilis is moved.
He made his MLB debut on May 2nd and has a .319 batting average with 8 homeruns and 31 RBI.
Middlebrooks does not walk as much as Youkilis, but the kid can hit. He is only 23-years old.
Youkilis helped the Red Sox win their two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. After much speculation, it looks like the third baseman's days in Boston will soon be over.