Sources: Red Sox, Youkilis agree to deal  —  The Red Sox locked up another of their young stars to a long-term deal Thursday.  —  Youkilis  —  Boston avoided arbitration with Kevin Youkilis, agreeing to a four-year contract with the first baseman worth more than $40 million, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons.

Young will shift to third base  —  Rangers shortstop changes stance, clearing way for rookie Andrus  —  Rangers infielder Michael Young has agreed to move to third base for the 2009 season.  —  Young has also rescinded his request for a trade.  The move opens the door for rookie Elvis Andrus to play shortstop.

Garland rejects D-Backs' offer  —  Looking for stability in their rotation, the Diamondbacks made a run at innings-eater Jon Garland this week, but their offer to the right-hander was rejected on Thursday.  —  The length and value of the offer is not known, but it had a short shelf-life that expired Thursday.

Source: Padres target SS Eckstein  —  The San Diego Padres, looking for an affordable middle infielder to plug the hole created by the trade of shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis earlier this offseason, are focusing on free agent David Eckstein, said a baseball source.  —  Eckstein

Six Mets file for arbitration  —  When Oliver Perez beat the Mets in arbitration for $6.5 million last year, it was the club's first hearing with a player since David Cone in 1992.  Now that the streak is over, the Mets will have work to do to avoid arbitration with this year's crop of eligible players.

Is Freddy ready to sign with Sox?  —  GM Kenny Williams is apparently willing to give some young position players (3B Josh Fields, CF Jerry Owens, 2Bs Jayson Nix and Chris Getz) a chance to show what they can do this season.  —  But when it comes to pitching _ particularly the starting rotation _ Kenny prefers experience.

A Death in the Family  —  It is with a heavy heart that I pass along the news that our colleague and friend Todd Drew passed away last night.  According to his wife, “Todd lost the last game of the season in the bottom of the 9th inning just after midnight.  His dear friend Michael and I were with him and he went very peacefully.

Colon, White Sox agree to contract  —  CHICAGO — Free agent Bartolo Colon, a former Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star, agreed Thursday to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.  —  A two-time 20-game winner, Colon could earn an additional $2 million based on innings.

Orioles, Zaun agree to one-year deal  —  Contract includes team option for 2010; physical planned for Tuesday  —  Toronto Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun (right) is tagged out by Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora as he looks for a stolen base last season.  Zaun agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Orioles.

BREAKING: Ergopharm raided  —  Barely more than a week after Major League Baseball suspended Phillies reliever J.C. Romero for 50 games for using a banned substance, the laboratory that produced the nutritional supplement that the left-hander claimed was tainted and caused him to falsely test positive …

Kazmir, Howell added to Team USA  —  Rays southpaws bring American roster to 26 players for Classic  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays will be represented on Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic after Scott Kazmir and J.P. Howell were added to the team Thursday.

Tribe inks Chulk to Minor League deal  —  CLEVELAND — Chalk up another Minor League signing for the Indians — and this time, you can chalk up Chulk.  —  The Indians have signed right-hander reliever Vinnie Chulk to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training camp.

Dodgers cut ties with Jones  —  Team releases outfielder after efforts to work a trade prove fruitless  —  LOS ANGELES — Barely one year after making Andruw Jones the highest-paid player in franchise history, the Dodgers released him.  —  Concluding one of the most stunning yet inexplicable collapses …

Cubs' Cedeno, Braves' Diaz avoid arbitration  —  While all six of the eligible Rockies filed for arbitration Thursday without agreements, some more signings continue to trinkle in.  —  The Cubs avoided arbitration with infielder Ronny Cedeno, agreeing to a one-year, $822,000 deal.