MLB roundup: Yankees grab Youkilis; Dickey, Mets at odds

The New York Yankees reportedly have signed free-agent Kevin Youkilis, to fill their void at third base.

Contract details have yet to be reported, but ESPN said the signing is pending a physical. Last week, MLB.com reported he was offered a one-year, $12-million deal.

Youkilis, 33, finished last season with the Chicago White Sox after spending his entire career with the Boston Red Sox. He batted a combined .235 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs.

Youkilis would fill the void left by Alex Rodriguez, who is expected to miss most of the first half of 2013 after having a second hip surgery.

---NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey feels he's been more than fair in his request for a market-value contract extension, but also understands the business side.

To that end, he told reporters that he likely won't be a Met beyond next season without one.

The have three options regarding their ace. They can deal him, extend him, or let pitch in 2013 at $5 million.

Both sides don't like that third option.

"If that's the decision they feel like is best for the club, and that's the decision that they make, I feel like it would be unfortunate, because it probably is going to mean I'm not going to be back (in 2014)," Dickey said during a holiday party for schoolchildren affected by Hurricane Sandy at Citi Field.

The 38-year-old knuckleballer also reminded the media that he won't negotiate during the 2013 season.

"I'm so close to free agency, and I don't want any distractions," he said.

General manager Sandy Alderson told reporters that a resolution could happen soon.

"Things are ongoing," Alderson said. "We continue to talk to R.A., and specifically his agent, and there's some progress being made there. Obviously, at the same time, we'll talk to some other clubs and keep R.A. to some extent appraised of those conversations. We're in a similar place today to where we were last week. But the surrounding circumstances have changed somewhat. So I hope we'll have more clarity in a few days. In the meantime, we're more or less status quo."

Citing sources, ESPN.com reported that the Mets are preparing a two-year, $20 million extension, not including the $5 million he's set to earn in 2013. Dickey was reportedly seeking a combined $26 million to $28 million for 2014 and '15.

---Free agent slugger Jim Thome told CSNPhilly.com that he'd like to play next season.

"I'm not retired," Thome said. "If someone wants me to play, I'd consider it for sure. I feel good. If I didn't feel good, I wouldn't even consider it. But I feel good. I'd like to play."

Thome, 42, said thinks he'd fit best as a designated hitter, but is open to be a bench job in the right situation. He batted .252 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 186 plate appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles in 2012.

---Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that the team could begin to discuss a contract extension with homegrown ace Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw has one year left on a two-year, $19 million deal, and has one more year of arbitration eligibility, after the 2014 season. The Dodgers, who just inked free agent Zack Greinke to a six-year, $147-million deal, are interested in signing him for the long term.

Kershaw. 24, finished second to the New York Mets' R.A. Dickey in Cy Young Award voting this season. He won in 2011.

---Bringing in help for a rotation that struggled in 2012, the Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Kevin Correia late Monday, according to multiple media reports.

Correia, 32, reportedly landed a two-year, $10 million deal.

In each of the past two seasons, Correia went 12-11 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, making the National League All-Star team in 2011. This year, he had a 4.21 ERA in 32 games (28 starts).

---The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they signed five players to minor-league deals: pitchers Claudio Vargas, Rich Thompson and Juan Perez, third baseman Eugenio Velez and first baseman/DH Luis Jimenez.

---The Kansas City Royals continued to bolster their pitching staff Tuesday, signing relievers George Sherrill and Dan Wheeler to minor-league contracts. Both will be invited to Spring Training.

Sherrill, 35, pitched in two games with the Seattle Mariners in 2012, but injured his elbow following Tommy John surgery.

Wheeler, 35, spent most of the 2012 season in Triple-A.

The Royals also signed Willy Taveras to a minor-league deal. The 30-year-old outfielder last played for an MLB team in 2010. He has a .274 batting career batting average with 195 stolen bases. He has played for the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds in seven MLB seasons.

---Former baseball phenom pitcher David Clyde was arrested last weekend in Harris County, Texas, and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Clyde, 57, was arrested Saturday and was set free on a $500 bond after his first offense, according to the Houston Press.

Recently, he has worked in the lumber business and has coached at Houston-area Christian-based baseball academy.

Clyde was famous for going from high school to the major leagues after being drafted by Texas Rangers in 1973. His career ended in 1979 with an 18-33 record and a 4.63 ERA.