The New York Yankees reportedly have signed third baseman Kevin Youkilis to a one-year deal worth $12 million pending his physical, according to Fox Sports insider Ken Rosenthal. 

 

The 33-year-old veteran will be the Opening Day starter at third for the Yankees as Alex Rodriguez continues to recover from an injury and surgery to his left hip.

As a former member of the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees are quite familiar with his style of play and his ability to work pitchers deep into counts.

He is also expected to DH from time to time and spell Mark Teixeira at first base. 

After a falling out last year with then-Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, Youkilis was shipped off to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Zach Stewart and outfielder Brent Lillibridge.

In half a season on the South Side, Youkilis hit 15 home runs and drove in 46.

The Yankees are able to fill a huge hole at third with this move.

Youkilis will actually make the same money in 2013, according to Cot’s Contracts, as he did this year.

Although Youkilis has been hampered by injuries—most notably to a shoulder—he is still a decent glove at third and a Gold Glove guy at first.

Yes, the average is down—hitting just .235 last year in Boston and Chicago—but his will to win has never got in the way.

That is part of why Youkilis was so revered during his years in Boston. He was the anti-Manny Ramirez. 

Kevin Youkilis is one of the most intense baseball players ever to play. Growing up in Cincinnati, his demeanor matches his childhood hero Pete Rose and another Reds player who succeeded with the Yankees in Paul O’Neill.

The money certainly is fine with this being just a one-year deal, and the story lines practically write themselves when Youkilis returns to Fenway in the road gray of the hated Yankees.

But what the Yankees get here is a guy who will run through a brick wall if he has too and put a fire under anyone else who seems to be dogging it.

If he is healthy, he will play an invaluable role as the Yankees try and retain their top place in the American League East. 

*Statistics via Baseball Reference.

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