Writing in his weekly diary on ESPN.com, Youkilis said that he's open to playing either first or third base next season — just as long as he's not required to switch back and forth all year.
"You know, I don't care," he wrote. "I just like playing baseball. I'll play first or I'll play third. I just don't like to flip back and forth every other day. But if it's third, I'll play third. I'll prepare myself this offseason to play third base. If it's first, I'll be ready to play first. For me, whatever is going to make this team stronger."
Youkilis acknowledged that hat his willingness to play either position affords Theo Epstein some flexibility in building a roster this winter.
"If we get a first baseman, if we get a third baseman, it's just how it works," Youkilis wrote. "If Adrian Beltre comes back, I'll play first. If he doesn't come back and they have to get somebody that plays first, I'll play third. There are so many different variables. What I tell Theo and I tell [Terry Francona] is whatever is going to make the team stronger and help win a World Series, I'll play whatever."
While Youkilis has always been able to play either spot, he's established himself primarily as a first baseman at this point in his career, starting 530 games at first and 180 at third. He also started in 19 games in the outfield, but that portion of his career appeared to have come to a close when he looked out of place in left field at Yankee Stadium in August of '09.
Still, he's a Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star at first base, but he says he's more than ready to make a career shift for the good of the team. Seems fitting for a guy who used "Not Afraid" as his walk-up music this year.
