Cherington on Youk: 'Got to be open-minded'

With the Red Sox lacking an identified starting first baseman for the 2013 season, team general manager Ben Cherington -- in his interview on WEEI's Red Sox Hot Stove Show -- was asked whether the team might contemplate a reunion with Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis, who was drafted by the Sox in 2001 and remained with the team until being traded to the White Sox on June 24 (in exchange for Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge), became a free agent when the White Sox declined their $13 million option for 2013 on the 33-year-old.

"We're not shutting the door to talent of any kind. You lose 93 games, you've got to be open-minded about how to put it back together," said Cherington. "He's a guy who's done well here in the past, but it's part of an offseason landscape and we're considering all sorts of alternatives at first base and at other positions. Beyond that, I really can't comment on that, but we're not going to shut the door on any potential player that has a chance to make us better.

"He was good player for a long time and always played hard. We respect Kevin and Kevin, he's a free agent for the first time, so he'll have options. This is the first time in his career since he's been in college, and before that, this is the first time that he'll have a choice to make about where he plays," Cherington added. "Guys that put in that time and earn that right, that doesn't come along very often, so I think he's got more control of the situation than he's ever had before. But we respect Kevin and the way he plays. On a personal level, certainly nothing happened that would -- there was no break in the relationship, I don't think -- but again, he'll have choices and we'll have choices and we'll see where the offseason takes us."

Youkilis hit .236 with a .346 OBP, .425 slugging mark and .771 OPS with 15 homers in 80 games after heading to Chicago. He hit just .233 with a .315 OBP, .377 slugging percentage and .692 OPS (with four homers in 42 games) for the Red Sox prior to the deal. 

To listen to the entire interview with Cherington, click here [1]. For complete Red Sox coverage, visit weei.com/redsox [2].