MLB Trade Rumors: Handicapping the 5 Favorites to Acquire Kevin Youkilis

The Red Sox have a logjam at the corner infield positions, and they might be forced to do the almost unthinkable: trading Kevin Youkilis, one of the leaders of the team and a key part of two championship teams.

But they might not have a choice. Prospect Will Middlebrooks shined when filling in for Youk while he was on the disabled list, so the team couldn't justify sending him down when Youkilis returned. Instead, they've tried playing Middlebrooks at third base, Youkilis at first base (where he's played before), and moving Adrian Gonzalez to right field. (Of course, David Ortiz is firmly entrenched as the team's designated hitter.)

But that's not sustainable. A-Gon is one of the best defensive first basemen in the game, and the last thing the Sox need is for him to get injured running down a fly ball in the outfield.

One of them must go, and it will have to be Youkilis. Middlebrooks is too highly touted a prospect to deal in order to play an aging, injury-prone player whose contract expires at the end of the year. (The team holds a $13 million option for 2013 that will almost certainly be declined by any team he is playing for at year's end.) Gonzalez is too good and has too big a contract to trade.

On April 24, I wrote an article listing 10 teams that should trade for Youk. Now that another month of the season has passed, here are five teams that may pursue Youkilis and the likelihoods that each will acquire him.

Philadelphia Phillies

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, Phillies scouted Kevin Youkilis while he was rehabbing from injury.

The Phils could definitely use a bat and Youkilis could either play first or third for them. Ty Wigginton has struggled at first filling in for Ryan Howard, and Placido Polanco could slide from third base to second while Chase Utley is still out with a knee injury.

But I don't really see the Sox and the Phillies as a match.

The Red Sox could ask for either a player who can help them immediately or a prospect, but the Phillies don't really have either to offer.

The most likely option for the Phillies to offer is starting pitcher Joe Blanton, but is he really an upgrade over Felix Dubront or Daniel Bard? The Phillies' system is also weak, so they wouldn't be able to offer much.

The Phils are among the most interested in Youkilis but will likely be unable to land him.

San Francisco Giants

Earlier this month, ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes quoted a scout as saying that Kevin Youkilis could fit in well with the GIants.

They need a bat in the worst way, and youngster Brandon Belt hasn't hit as the first baseman. He's hit just .231 and hasn't homered.

What I'm not sure about is whether the Giants will be buyers or sellers as we approach the trade deadline. They're 25-23, seven-and-a-half games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The extra wild-card team this year increases all teams' odds of making the playoffs, but at this point they're still just a .500 team.

Plus, the Giants were buyers last year when they acquired Carlos Beltran from the Mets, but that backfired, they missed the playoffs anyway and dealt one of their best prospects in Zack Wheeler.

The Giants could offer the Red Sox a solid bullpen arm, but will they want to?

Cleveland Indians

In addition to the Phillies, Jerry Crasnick also reported that Cleveland Indians are looking at Kevin Youkilis.

This makes sense if the Indians are planning on staying in the race this year. They're 26-20, at the top of the AL Central, but they started strong last year as well but ended up a sub-.500 team.

Youkilis could fit in at both first and third base for the Indians. Casey Kotchman and Jack Hannahan haven't hit a lick at the corner infield positions, and Asdrubal Cabrera is the only hitter for the Tribe with a batting average above .280.

Plus, Youk is an Ohio kid. (He grew up in Cincinnati, but still.)

The question is whether the Indians, like the Giants, will be buyers at the trade deadline. If they are, they will go for him.

Cincinnati Reds

Buster Olney thinks the Reds could make a strong move for Youkilis, and I think he's right.

The Reds are a strong offensive team, but they need a third baseman with Scott Rolen out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Youkilis is from Cincinnati and is a University of Cincinnati Bearcat, and the Reds could make a move to re-sign him after the season. (Rolen's contract expires this year, as well.)

The Reds' bullpen is also solid, and they could offer up an arm or prospects.

They're going for it all this year, and Youk could provide veteran leadership that could put them over the top in a relatively weak National League.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks the Dodgers would be interested in Kevin Youkilis if he is made available, and I can see his point.

The Dodgers have the best record in baseball, but it's unclear whether they can stay on top of an NL West that has the Diamondbacks and Giants if Matt Kemp's hamstring continues to bother him.

Neither of their corner infield positions have given them much production. James Loney is hitting just .266 with almost no power, and Juan Uribe has a .640 OPS.

Their new owners are already showing a willingness to spend money, and Youkilis would make a ton of sense.

The Dodgers will make a strong move to acquire Youkilis, and acquiring him would make a strong statement to Los Angeles fans.