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June 24, 2012
Transaction Analysis
Youkilis Changes Sox
by R.J. Anderson
| American League | National League |
Traded 3B-R Kevin Youkilis and $5.5 million to the White Sox for RHP Zach Stewart and UTL-R Brent Lillibridge. [6/24]
The Will Middlebrooks Era is officially underway in Boston. Youkilis fell from grace quickly thanks to injuries, a slow start, and Middlebrooks’ hot start. With no position for Youkilis to play most days, it was only a matter of time before Boston pulled the trigger on a trade. The Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Pirates, and Indians were mentioned, amongst others, but in the end, the White Sox won out.
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Prospectus Hit and Run... (06/22)
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13 comments have been left for this article. 
Surprise Me!
It was certainly the best offer on the table. I very much doubt the Red Sox, all things being equal or even marginally unequal, wanted to deal Youkilis to another AL team. But when that's all there is then that's all there is. Take it or don't. The Red Sox took it.
Do we certainly know it was the best offer on the table? We're talking about the same front office that took Chris Carpenter as compensation for Theo Epstein only to watch his elbow go "sproing" within a month.
And, as an addendum, the Red Sox should be faulted for torpedoing Youkilis's value. Beyond the bad PR (which began in spring training), if they had given him more regular at bats, he might've restored more of his value.
If you're going to pay so much of his salary and get so little in return, why not just keep him? Perhaps he regains his value in the next month of part-time value before the trading deadline. Perhaps another team gets an injury and thus, brings another offer to the table.
I just can't believe this is the best the Red Sox could do.
We don't know it was the best offer on the table, we know the Red Sox thought it was the best offer on the table.
He's an often-injured player who hasn't hit very well for a year and a half, with dodgy defence, and only under control to the end of the season. Couple that with the fact that everybody in the world knows you need to trade him, and you're never going to get much that matters for him.
Youkilis has actually posted better fielding numbers in terms of fielding percentage and range factor than Middlebrooks based on 40 games of each player at third base.
Youkilis also had a .833 OPS last year, which is hardly shabby. Meanwhile, Middlebrooks's career minor league OPS is .787
Also, the Red Sox themselves were the ones who let everyone know they needed to trade him. They sabotaged his value, so I do fault them for not getting more than what the Sox gave. Besides, if they knew they weren't getting much, why not keep him around for another 2-3 weeks as a platoon/bench bat and see if he either increases his value or see if another team develops a need.
Now, I think Middlebrooks can be a decent player but any rookie can be hot for 40 games just as even Pujols can be cold for 40 games. Youkilis has had his injuries which works against him, but if I had to pick between Youkilis's production and defense and Middlebrooks, I think it's at worst a tie with a slight edge towards Youkilis.