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.

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

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.

Don't hang the blame on Young, just hang the GM  —  For the Texas Rangers, this has been a blessed week.  No, seriously.  —  For a franchise currently stuck on nowhere — been nowhere, going nowhere, no clues nowhere — there's suddenly been a massive amount of jock kingdom headline and air-time hogging.

Yanks, Mets finalists for Freddy Garcia  —  by Joe Pawlikowski  —  We learned earlier this week that RHP Freddy Garcia will decide on a team by the end of next week.  There are four finalists: Mets, White Sox, Rangers, and Yankees.  While it wouldn't be right to count out the Sox right now …

Nats, A's Revive Nick Johnson Trade Talks  —  The Nationals and Oakland Athletics, who discussed a potential trade for first baseman Nick Johnson all the way back in November, have revived those talks in recent weeks, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

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.

Bush signs one-year deal  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  The Brewers knocked off another arbitration-eligible player by signing right-hander Dave Bush to a 2009 contract.  —  I haven't seen the terms yet but Bush made $2.55 million last season and is in his second year of arbitration eligibility.

Arbitration madness about to begin  —  Here it comes.  We're warning you now.  It's the arbitration class of 2009, potentially the most expensive, most sport-rattling arbitration class ever.  And it's about to leave a mark on this sport the size of Bryce Canyon.

Yankees want Posada to skip Classic  —  Catcher's father says son has signed to play for Puerto Rico  —  NEW YORK — Jorge Posada's hopes of playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic may be dashed by the Yankees, who would prefer to have the catcher physically prepared for Opening Day.

Coin flips eliminated as MLB playoff tiebreakers … PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — All postseason games will be played to their conclusion under a change to the major league rules approved Thursday by baseball owners.  —  Owners also voted to use head-to-head records to replace coin flips …

Tigers looking at Lyon, Isringhausen  —  Detroit continues to search for closer to anchor bullpen  —  DETROIT — The Tigers are one of the few teams left at this point in the offseason still scouring the market for a closer.  One way or the other, they could get some closure on that matter within …

OZUNA SIGNED, INVITED TO SPRING TRAINING  —  In another sign that the Phillies are bracing for a possible April without Chase Utley, they have agreed to a minor-league contract with veteran infielder Pablo Ozuna, who will come to spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Hendry hunts for pitcher hunt  —  Lots of free agents remain on the market, and premier trade targets Jake Peavy and Brian Roberts are hanging in varying degrees of limbo.  —  But as the Cubs approach the last month of their offseason, it looks more likely that what fans see at the Cubs Convention …