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  —  Young has also rescinded his request for a trade.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.

Padres reach terms on Eckstein  —  The Padres have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with David Eckstein to play second base.  —  Eckstein, who will turn 34 on Tuesday, batted .265 with two home runs last season and played at both shortstop and second base.

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.

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.

Why Is Bly not Fly?  —  John Heyman made a comment during the MLB Network Hall of Fame show that cut both ways for me.  Rich Lederer, long time advocate for Bert Blyleven's Hall of Fame induction transcribes Heyman's remarks: … Patrick Sullivan, another writer at Baseball Analysts …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Ex-Card Taguchi signed by Cubs  —  The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder So Taguchi to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.  Taguchi would earn $900,000 if he makes the team in spring training.  —  Taguchi spent all of last season as a backup outfielder for the Phillies …