MLB Free Agency 2013: Yankees Sign Kevin Youkilis to 1-Year, $12M Deal

If you're wondering what that sounds was, it was the collective groan coming out of Boston.

Why?

Kevin Youkilis is officially coming to the Bronx.

After weeks of speculation, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports broke the news on Twitter that the Yankees have officially signed the former Red Sox infielder.

"

Source: #Yankees sign Youkilis, one year, $12M.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2012"

It's for the one-year deal worth $12 million that the Yankees offered him last week just as the Baseball Winter Meetings ended in Nashville.

Youkilis will take the spot of the injured Alex Rodriguez, who will be sidelined for the summer with hip surgery.

And even if A-Rod comes back, there's a good possibility that he may be moved to the designated hitter spot with Youkilis already on the team.

The 34-year-old split time between the Red Sox and White Sox in 2012 and was traded to Chicago back in June as part of the Red Sox "re-building mode."

Youkilis now joins a list of players such as Babe Ruth, Johnny Damon, Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens—all former established Boston players who went on play for the Yankees.

While Youkilis had an offer from the Yankees, he also had an offer from the Indians for a two-year, $18 million contract, but the Tribe signed Mark Reynolds, which took Cleveland out of the running for Youkilis.

It seemed like it was inevitable that Youkilis was coming to New York, especially for the money that was being offered on the one-year deal.

It'll be interesting to see how fans in the Bronx respond to Youkilis now after nine years in Boston.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.