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Report: Kevin Youkilis Likely to Land With Phillies, Dodgers or Diamondbacks If Traded

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington insists that the only trade talks involving Kevin Youkilis are ones other teams are starting.

But if the veteran third baseman were to move teams, the Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks are most interested, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports.

Cherington said Friday that reports that he was shopping Youkilis to other teams were "inaccurate," but he did acknowledge that other teams have approached the Red Sox looking for the services of the nine-year veteran. Youkilis can play capably at both first and third base, but his status with the Red Sox became uncertain after Adrian Gonzalez took a long-term contract at first, Youkilis struggled with injuries early this year and call-up Will Middlebrooks wowed the majors while filling in at the hot corner.

Talks with the Red Sox are "very preliminary" at this point, Heyman cites a Boston source as saying. "Others familiar with their thinking say the Red Sox envision an eventual need to trade [Youkilis], barring more injuries," Heyman writes.

The Red Sox would be looking for something very good in return for Youkilis but could lessen their demands if the new team ate some of Youkilis' contract, Heyman reports. Youkilis' value has gone up since he returned from the disabled list on May 22 and showed he still has power at the plate.

The White Sox, who need a third baseman, are also expected to be in the mix, and another half dozen teams could find use for him on their roster.