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  —  Young has also rescinded his request for a trade.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

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 …

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: Garcia in talks with Mets and Yankees  —  Freddy Garcia hopes to decide by next week whom he will sign with.  Garcia is choosing between the Mets, Yankees, White Sox and Rangers.  His agent, Peter Greenberg, tells 1050, “They all have their pros and cons.”

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

Reed among Mets to file for arbitration  —  NEW YORK — Six Mets players, including Jeremy Reed, the outfielder the club obtained in the J.J. Putz trade last month, have filed for salary arbitration.  —  The club faces possible hearings with Ryan Church, Pedro Feliciano, John Maine, Angel Pagan and Duaner Sanchez, as well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Three Yankees file for arbitration  —  Outfielders Nady and Melky, reliever Bruney could go to hearing  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees' Brian Bruney, Melky Cabrera and Xavier Nady joined a group of 111 Major League players who filed for salary arbitration on Thursday.

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.