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White Sox decline option on Youkilis

Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff October 30, 2012 08:19 PM

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By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The White Sox today made two moves of interest to Red Sox fans:

-- They signed RHP Jake Peavy to a two-year, $29 million deal. They declined his $22 million option for 2013 and went with a new deal. So cross Peavy off your list of possible Red Sox rotation additions.

-- Chicago also declined its $13 million option on Kevin Youkilis, paying him a $1 million buyout. The White Sox have not closed the door on the idea of Youkilis returning to the team, but he expected to hit the open market on Saturday.

Youkilis had a .235/.336/.409 line this season, the worst of his career. He turns 34 in March.

There are no indications the Red Sox have any interest in bringing Youkilis back. Will Middlebrooks will be the third baseman and they can probably find a first baseman (or a platoon) who would give them better offensive production.