MLB

Youkilis joins Yankees with $12M, 1-year contract

After mulling their one-year, $12 million offer for the past several days, Kevin Youkilis agreed to join the Yankees tonight and, in the process, add a new chapter to the never-ending, Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

The deal is dependent on the former member of the Red Sox, who was traded to the White Sox last season after he clashed with then-Boston manager Bobby Valentine, passing a physical.

Youkilis, who turns 34 in March, will be asked to fill the void at third left by the hip injury that will force Alex Rodriguez to undergo hip surgery next month. Rodriguez is expected to miss at least the first half of the 2013 season.

Youkilis had also drawn interest from the Dodgers, Mariners and Cleveland, where Terry Francona, his former manager in Boston, has taken over the Indians. But Cleveland signed free-agent Mark Reynolds on Monday reducing Youkilis’ options. The Indians had offered Youkilis a two-year deal worth $17 million.

The Yankees had been willing to wait on Youkilis because the list of free-agent third basemen significantly drops off after him.

Unsigned are Jack Hannahan, Placido Polanco, Brandon Inge and Scott Rolen. Yankees prospect David Adams, who was moved to third from second base late last year in the minor leagues, isn’t ready for big league action. And the Yankees insist they view Eduardo Nunez as a shortstop.

Youkilis had been bothered by physical ailments the last three seasons when he played 102, 120 and 122 games. Last year he batted a career-low .235 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs for the Red Sox and White Sox. He made $12.25 million last year.