Youk preparing himself for 3B

[Red Foreman]

And he's healed:

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2148045/youkilis-im-preparing-myself-play-third-base

[BSN07]

Not surprising. I think the idea was to move him there next season. But with numerous 1B option and not so many 3B one's, looks like they are going to do it a year early.

[boston22407]

Good for him

[The Village Idiot]

This is a worst case scenario preparation situation.

 

Worst case being, if the Sox can't sign Beltre, which is likely their number one off-season priority.

 

If Beltre goes elsewhere, there's a chance the Sox sign Pena to play first, have Youk at third, Pena at first, Lowrie at SS, Pedey at 2nd, and some combo of three of Werth or Crawford, Ells, Cameron and/or Drew in the OF, with Victor their signed catcher and Papi DH'ing. Everyone thinks the Sox are going to shake things up in a huge way this year, but I just don't see it. I think everything flows from whether or not they can sign Beltre. If they can't then things could look interesting/different, but if they do, this team's going to look a lot like last year's team. And it damned well should.

[a700hitter]

This is a worst case scenario preparation situation.

 

Worst case being, if the Sox can't sign Beltre, which is likely their number one off-season priority.

 

If Beltre goes elsewhere, there's a chance the Sox sign Pena to play first, have Youk at third, Pena at first, Lowrie at SS, Pedey at 2nd, and some combo of three of Werth or Crawford, Ells, Cameron and/or Drew in the OF, with Victor their signed catcher and Papi DH'ing. Everyone thinks the Sox are going to shake things up in a huge way this year, but I just don't see it. I think everything flows from whether or not they can sign Beltre. If they can't then things could look interesting/different, but if they do, this team's going to look a lot like last year's team. And it damned well should.

The problem is that Borass usually plays things out until the 11th hour. That's not good for the Sox if all of their other moves will flow from the outcome on Beltre. They can't afford to let the other pieces sign elsewhere while waiting for a decision from Beltre.

[SCM33]

Move on from Beltre.

 

#1 priority should be VMart.

 

#2 should be Dunn. He will play 1B and some LF since we have Ortiz signed for at least one more year. Dunn becomes the DH when Ortiz leaves and VMart gradually transitions to 1B in 2 years. Youk will do fine at 3B.

[BSN07]

Beltre is gone. He was never the long term solution. If he did well he would go elsewhere to make his big $. If he didn't do so well, the Sox could have another year of good D at 3B for a decent price while waiting to fill the CIF long term after 2011. That was the point of the contract.

 

V-Mart will be back if he will take a 3 year deal. He should be able to manage catching for most of that. 1B isn't going to be an option for him next season IMO.

 

Dunn makes sense as a one year stop gap at 1B and then to DH after 2011 IMO.

[Republican4life38]

Beltre is gone. He was never the long term solution. If he did well he would go elsewhere to make his big $. If he didn't do so well, the Sox could have another year of good D at 3B for a decent price while waiting to fill the CIF long term after 2011. That was the point of the contract.

 

V-Mart will be back if he will take a 3 year deal. He should be able to manage catching for most of that. 1B isn't going to be an option for him next season IMO.

 

Dunn makes sense as a one year stop gap at 1B and then to DH after 2011 IMO.

[SoxSport]

I hope this doesn't happen. Youks has been away from 3B too long to go back. He's not getting any younger and has settled in well at 1B. Lowrie deserves a shot at 3B. The only question is if he can stay healthy.

[example1]

Or if he will be traded. With Scutaro under contract and Iglesias a year away and on a MLB contract, Lowrie has to be a valuable trading piece. If he's still around he should be starting, IMO