Changing Sox: Youkilis traded to Chicago

:  BOSTON -- Kevin Youkilis' Red Sox career ended Sunday at the spot he last called his own as a member of the Red Sox -- third base at Fenway Park.

Youkilis' final act with the only Major League organization he has known was a seventh-inning triple to right-center field, a knock he legged out with an extra gear in his final paces before -- what else -- getting dirty. There at the bag, Nick Punto pinch-ran and Youkilis walked off to a sold-out crowd's standing ovation and one last curtain call -- his farewell to the fans who adored him for almost every day of nine seasons and two World Series rings.

Youkilis was traded after a 9-4 win over the Braves to the White Sox for 28-year-old utility player Brent Lillibridge and 25-year-old righty Zach Stewart. Boston also sent about $5.6 million to the White Sox to cover the roughly $8 million Youkilis is still owed for this season.

"He's given everything he has in every game he's ever put on the Red Sox uniform," said Dustin Pedroia, a face of the team as Youkilis once was. "It's sad."

Youkilis traded: Complete coverage •   White Sox acquire Youkilis from Red Sox  •   Changing Sox: Youkilis dealt  •   Heir apparent handed reins in Boston  •   Justice: Trade works for all involved  •   Red Sox players say Youk will be missed  •   Youkilis' bio, statistics   Youk's final Red Sox at-bat  White Sox react to trade  Cherington discusses deal  Red Sox react to trade  Valentine on Youk's ovation  Williams discusses Youkilis trade  Lillibridge on being traded  Ventura on Youkilis trade

Youkilis was not in the clubhouse after the game and the nameplate above his locker had already been removed. Before the send-off, it was clear the 33-year-old's time here had run its course. Rookie Will Middlebrooks had taken Youkilis' at-bats, and the relationship between Youkilis and manager Bobby Valentine was deteriorating. While general manager Ben Cherington said the situation had not become untenable, Youkilis had expressed how unhappy he was with the team's lack of communication on Saturday.

Cherington said Sunday Youkilis knew for some time that trade talks were under way.

"You definitely had all the ups and downs," Youkilis said the day before of his time here. "I probably could describe it to you 10 years down the road better. When you're in it, you can't really describe the stuff you're in. Somebody is going to have to remind me. ... You see it all. To be continued, shall we say."

Jasper's thoughts:   "It's sad to see youk go, but it was also time for him to leave, with Middebrooks up the way he is, there was no room for Kevin [Youkilis] on the roster."

Youk: 'I was never told what's going on'

ESPN Boston:  BOSTON -- Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis is clearly not happy with the fact that he's out of the lineup for the third consecutive game Saturday. 

He also made it a point to tell a group of reporters that he's healthy. 

"You want to play. I definitely want to play the game and enjoy it and have fun," Youkilis said. "I don't know my situation. To be honest, I was never told what's going on here -- let's get that straight." 

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Friday he spoke with Youkilis, but the veteran infielder debunked that notion. 

"There was no conversation and I'll leave it at that," Youkilis said. "I don't want to start up anything, but there was no conversation. But it has been addressed. ... It's been addressed that I'm not playing today. Basically, there was no conversation about it and I'm just coming in here and getting my work done. If I need to pinch-hit and play the game, I'll come in and play." 

There's been serious speculation that the Red Sox are about to trade Youkilis, and there are a few teams interested in the veteran. Youkilis does not want to talk about the situation. 

"I have no thoughts on anything and I haven't been told anything, so until I'm told anything I can't really respond," Youkilis said. 

This is the first time in his career he's really had to think about the possibility of a trade. 

"It's definitely different and you've just got to go day to day," he said. "It's definitely unknown waters, but all you can do is come to the field and do your work and try to improve."

David Ortiz tired of negative reports

ESPN Boston:  BOSTON -- In an odd and unusual tirade, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz told reporters Thursday that there's too much media-driven drama surrounding the club, and people should leave the players alone and let them concentrate on playing baseball.

"It's starting to become the s--- hole that it used to be," Ortiz said. "Look around, bro. Playing here used to be so much fun, and now every day it's something new not even related to baseball. People need to leave us alone and let us play ball, man, and let us do what we know how to do."

In his blog on Monday, ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney wrote that an "unhappiness that exists among the Boston players and staff is multi-layered and deep." Red Sox players have denied the report's characterization of the clubhouse.

The source of Ortiz's frustration stems from all the "media drama" surrounding this team, and he admitted that he's not having fun.

"Not really," he said. "Too much (s---). Too much (s---). This ain't all about me. I'm not just the only player here. We have 25 guys who care just as much as I care about playing ball here and providing winning ballgames, and it seems like there's something new every day about players. People need to leave us alone and let us play ball."

Jasper's Thoughts:  "I think that David [Ortiz] is getting really steamed over a whole-lot-of-nothing.  If he would just do his own thing, and play baseball, everything would be fine."

Pedroia, Sox hope thumb injury isn't serious

:  BOSTON -- Considering all that Dustin Pedroia means to the Red Sox, it is concerning whenever he leaves a game with an injury.

But after Tuesday night's 7-5 win against the Marlins, Pedroia was hopeful he didn't suffer a significant setback with the right thumb injury that knocked him out of six games in late May and early June.

After being jammed on a foulout to first in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday, Pedroia shook his right hand and then went through the dugout and straight to the clubhouse.

Jasper's thoughts:  "It would be really tough to loose Pedroia, even when he's not doing well, it would take a lot of punch out of the Red Sox's lineup."

Dice-K set for Saturday return vs. Nationals

redsox.com:  BOSTON -- The return of Daisuke Matsuzaka is set for Saturday, as the right-hander will take Daniel Bard's spot in the rotation for a start against the Washington Nationals.

Matsuzaka's return to the rotation will come one day short of his one-year anniversary of undergoing Tommy John ligament transfer surgery.

"Yeah, he was in today -- says he feels fine," said manager Bobby Valentine. "Unless something changes, we'll try to activate him and try to pitch him on Saturday. Obviously we'll wait until that day comes around [to make it official]."

Jasper's thoughts:  "Great to see Dice-K back at the big league level!"