Millar: I'd take Youk over Middlebrooks

Despite Kevin Youkilis’ subpar performance this season and multiple trade rumors, former Red Sox infielder and current MLB Network analyst Kevin Millar said he’d take Youkilis over rookie Will Middlebrooks.

“If [Youkilis] is healthy, I do want him in pressure situations over Will Middlebrooks. That’s my opinion,” Millar said. “Now, Will’s doing a great job right now, don’t get me wrong. But I’m telling you, [a] healthy Youkilis gives me the [important] type of at-bats, ninth inning against the Yankees in September, period.”

Millar applied the same logic to the impending position battle in the outfield between regular Carl Crawford and call-up Daniel Nava. Nava took Crawford’s place in the outfield after Crawford went down with an injury and has filled in well.

“You own the Red Sox and you invest in [Crawford] for $140 million,” Millar said.  ”Then this kid comes back making $20 million a year [and] we’re going to go, ‘Hey, Daniel Nava’s been great for 120 at-bats. He’s got a .500 OBP and you know what Carl, sorry you’ve lost your job.’ Come on, it doesn’t make sense.”

For the full audio of the interview, click on the Mut & Merloni page [1], and for Red Sox news, check out weei.com/redsox [2].