Japan's Golden Eagles swoop for Yankee Youkilis

[December 21, 2013]  (Reuters) — Infielder Kevin Youkilis has left the New York Yankees and agreed a deal with Nippon Professional Baseball's Rakuten Golden Eagles, the Japanese champions said on Saturday.

Sendai-based Rakuten did not reveal financial details of the contract for the 34-year-old three-times All Star and twice a World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox.

Japanese media said Youkilis had signed a one-year deal for 300 million yen ($2.88 million).

Youkilis, a first and third baseman, is a career .281 hitter with a .382 on-base percentage. He spent eight years with the Red Sox where he won championships in 2004 and 2007 before joining the Chicago White Sox for a season in 2012.

He suffered an injury-marred 2013 with the Yankees, playing only 28 games which was the least of his decade in the majors

($1 = 104.0950 yen)

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; writing by Patrick Johnston; editing by John O'Brien)

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