There has been a lot of talk about trading Kevin Youkilis lately. I think that unless we are getting someone that can help us this year as much as Youkilis can, we should not trade him. While people are saying Youk would get nothing, I don't understand that. He still has an option year, so if a team wants him for another year, they can pick it up, so the rental argument doesn't make much sense. Youk is owed 12 million this year, and 14 million next year. According to fangraphs, a player must produce 2.7 WAR to be worth 12 million dollars, and 3.1 WAR to be worth 14 million dollars. Youk has put up a 3.7 WAR or higher every year since 2007. While Youk is old, and did have a worse season last year, there is still a reasonable possibility last year was a fluke year, and Youk was still worth 3.7 WAR last year. People say Youk can't play 3B and can only play 1B. I think he would be better at 1B, but can play 3B below average.
More people are talking about how Will Middlebrooks will replace Youk easily. I don't see that happening, Middlebrooks has hit well overall so far in the majors, but his OBP is .309, his BB% is 4.4, and his K% is 32.4. His hitting is not sustainable.
So I think we could trade Youk, if we got a good piece, but I don't think we have to.
So let's look at all the teams in the majors and if they would want Youk:
Yankees: Teixeira
Rays: Carlos Pena is pretty similar to Youk, don't see it
Orioles: Chris Davis is lousy but don't see them trading within the division.
Blue Jays: Just placed Adam Lind on waivers, but don't see them trading within the division
Indians: Possible trade candidate if they are still good by the deadline. Not much money, but if they really want to go for it
White Sox: Konerko
Tigers: Fielder and Cabrera is really a 1B
Twins: Joe Mauer will have to move to 1B full time soon
Rangers: Trade candidate, could play Napoli at C, and rest Youk or Michael Young when he has to play 1st
A's: Don't they have like a million first basemen? And they're not good
Angels: Pujols is still amazing despite his start
Mariners: Lousy
Nationals: Michael Morse will come back and Adam Laroche is okay
Marlins: Gaby Sanchez is okay and not old
Mets: Ike Davis is young and okay
Phillies: Howard is really a lousy player, but Amaro only cares about RBIs so Howard when he comes back
Cardinals: Lance Berkman is a good 1st Baseman, and they don't have to make a change
Reds: Would love to see Youks to his hometown but he can't DH in NL and they have Votto
Pirates: No money
Astros: no money
Brewers: terrible 1Bman, but they aren't good right now, and don't see them trading unless they're in it.
Cubs: Have former Red Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo coming up, and they aren't in it, but maybe Theo would trade for Youk.
Dodgers: Trade candidate
Giants: Brandon Belt is good, and young, and was a top prospect
D-Backs: Not enough money
Rockies: Locked in to Helton contract
Padres: Not enough money
So the teams he could be traded to are
Indians
Rangers
Dodgers
Cubs and BRewers are longshots
so maybe Josh Tomlin from the Indians with us taking half salary, Colby Lewis from the Rangers, or Chad Billingsley from the Dodgers.
I'm dreaming, but how about this longshot?
Youk, Ranaudo, Brentz and Brandon Jacobs with us taking all Youk's salary for Zack Greinke