What to do about Youk

The Red Sox will soon have a difficult decision on their hands.  With the impending return of Kevin Youkilis on the horizon, the question focuses on what to do with young phenom Will Middlebrooks.

Youkilis has been out since the beginning of the month with a back strain, but yesterday he began a rehab assignment with the team's AAA affiliate in Pawtucket.  He looked good in his return, serving as the DH, hitting a double, drawing a walk and scoring a run.  The team plans to have him take the field at third base today.

In his absence, Middlebrooks has shined.  He may not come with the hype of top prospects like Bryce Harper or Mike Trout, but playing with those guys in the Arizona Fall League last year gave him the confidence that he could play at their level.  In 13 games since his May 2nd call up, the rookie has a .278/.316/.593 slash line.  In only his fourth game with the big league club he belted his first career home run, a grand slam.  He followed that up the next night with a two homer game.  He became just the third player in league history to hit at least 4 HRs and drive in at least 13 RBIs in the first 10 games to start a career.  Not bad for a debut.  Especially since it game after tearing it up in Pawtucket to start the season by hitting 9 home runs and driving in 27 runs in April before getting called up to the majors.  Granted these are all small sample sizes and he won't necessarily keep up that torrid early pace.  Already he's begun slumping a bit in the past week or so as teams have started to adjust to him.  However, it's clear from what we've seen so far that this kid has a bright future. 

The question is, does the future start now?

Once Youkilis is cleared to return, he's expected to reclaim his starting spot at third base.  He has to.  A veteran player and former All-Star deserves better than to lose his job to a rookie due to injury.  Despite an agonizingly slow start to the season, where he hit a meager .219 before going on the disabled list, the track record would seem to indicate that he's likely to turn things around once he gets back in rhythm.  Even when he's not hitting well, Youkilis is still a valuable hitter, one who grinds out at-bats, wracks up a pitcher's pitch count and finds ways to get on base. 

Perhaps more importantly, the Red Sox need to insert Youkilis back into the line up to help re-establish some semblance of trade value.  With Middlebrooks waiting in the wings and ready to shine, it would appear that Youkilis' days in Boston may be numbered.  At 33 years old and already known to be a bit prone to injuries, his skills may be in for a steep decline.  That's not to say he can't still be a useful member of the everyday line up, but it makes it unlikely that the team will exercise his $13 million option for next season.  If he's not likely to remain a fixture in this team's future, then the team would be wise to explore it's options in dealing him later this summer.  Several anonymous sources around the league have reported that there would be a market for Youkilis if he were to be made available.  There are certainly a few playoff hopeful teams that he would provide an upgrade for at either first or third base that may be willing to rent a player like Youkilis to help them down the stretch.  If the Red Sox don't make a drastic turn around by the trade deadline to establish themselves as playoff contenders (not as unlikely as you may think when you factor in the newly added extra Wild Card in each league), they would be best served auctioning off Youkilis for a package of prospects to help replenish their depleted farm system.  Billy Beane has always been known to be one of Youkilis' biggest admirers.  Perhaps Oakland would be willing to part with a couple of prospects from it's deep pool of young pitching talent, as long as Boston was willing to eat the majority of the contract.  Or perhaps his hometown Reds could be interested if they find themselves unable to rely on Scott Rolen.  There's no doubt that Youkilis would raise some interest on the trade market, but he first needs to prove that he's healthy and can stay productive.  The only way to do that is to get him back on the field.

As for Middlebrooks, it would be difficult to send him back to the minors after he's proven himself capable of handling himself at this level.  Yet the team may not have much of a choice.  They aren't likely to take the risk of trying to fit both bats in the line up by trying to move one of them to the outfield, so if Youkilis has to play then there may be no room for the rookie.  As manager Bobby Valentine has said already, it would only impede the youngster's development to have him sit on the bench.  As heartbreaking as a demotion would be, getting him regular at-bats is the best course of action for his future.  To his credit, Middlebrooks appears to understand this and publicly at least has said all the right things about how the job belongs to Youkilis once he's ready to come back.  At least for now.

It's clear the team's future will include Middlebrooks as a mainstay in the line up at third base, but that time hasn't come yet.  Based on talent and ability alone, perhaps it should be, but the team has plenty of reasons to give Youkilis another shot.  It won't be long before Fenway is filled again with cheers of YOOOOOUK!  Despite his struggles, he still remains a fan favorite and it will be tough to see him go.  Eventually though, that's what's going to have to happen.  Whether it be in July or October, Youk's time in Boston appears to be numbered.

Then it will be Will Middelbrooks getting those Fenway cheers.