The Will Middlebrooks Era may soon be upon us.
According to CBSsports.com's Danny Knobler, the Red Sox are telling teams they intend to trade Kevin Youkilis, which presumably would make room for Middlebrooks to be Boston's everyday third baseman.
Red Sox are telling teams they definitely intend to trade Youkilis. DKnobler (@DKnobler) June 1, 2012
From Hardball Talk:
Youkilis is hitting .250.318.406 in limited play this year. Though he is hitting well.313..371.531 with two homerssince coming off the DL.
The word was that he needed a couple of weeks of good play to be truly marketable. Well, hes had them. So I guess now hell be marketed.
Knobler notes that the Dodgers and White Sox have already seen the 33-year-old third baseman play. He says that Youk would also seem to be a fit for the Phillies, Reds, Diamondbacks and Giants. Even the Rangers have checked on Youkilis, according to Knobler's sources.
Middlebrooks, 23, has made a potential deal all the more likely. In 24 games, the 23-year-old third baseman has hit .316 with six home runs, 21 RBI and a .922 OPS.