Kevin Youkilis has been removed from Friday's game in the fifth inning for undisclosed reasons.

Eduardo Escobar came on to replace Youkilis at third base in the bottom of the fifth inning. Given Youk's extensive injury history, this is far from a surprising development.

Kevin Youkilis singled in four at-bats Monday in his first game with the White Sox.

Hitting second in the batting order, Youkilis singled up the middle against Twins reliever Glen Perkins in the eighth for his first base knock with the Palehose. It's a good spot in the lineup for him, and we're expecting Youk to rebound in Chicago.

Kevin Youkilis will bat second and play third base Monday against the Twins in his debut with the White Sox.

The White Sox are hoping he can set the table for big-boppers Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn. Youkilis has struggled through injuries this season, but he should be a big lift for a team which has an MLB worst .168 batting average and .467 OPS from the third base position this year.

Red Sox traded 3B Kevin Youkilis and cash to the White Sox for RHP Zach Stewart and UTIL Brent Lillibridge.

A monster upgrade over the Brent Morel and Orlando Hudson platoon, Youk has escaped a diminished role in Boston and assumed an everyday gig with the contending White Sox. Chicago's third baseman entered play Sunday with a pathetic .466 OPS, easily the worst mark in the majors. The move is obviously a coup for Youkillis' fantasy value. The veteran missed nearly a month earlier this season with a back strain and has batted just .233 with four homers and 14 RBI, but we would expect him to improve in his new surroundings. Youkilis is earning $12 million this season with a $1 million buyout of next season's $13 million salary. Boston likely covered more than half the cash owed to him.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Indians are now a "longshot" for Kevin Youkilis.

Rosenthal adds that the Dodgers have only had "minimal contact" with the Red Sox front office. It appears that the White Sox and Pirates are the front-runners for the 33-year-old third baseman, who is out of Boston's lineup Saturday for a third straight game and seems likely to be dealt by early next week.

According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, the Red Sox are hoping to trade Kevin Youkilis to the the White Sox, Indians, or Dodgers by the end of the day Saturday.

Youk has also attracted trade interest from the Pirates, Braves and Diamondbacks. He's out of Boston's lineup Saturday for a third straight game and seems likely to be in a new uniform by early next week. Dealing Youkilis would allow the Red Sox to install Will Middlebrooks as their everyday third baseman. Come to think of it, they already have.

Kevin Youkilis is not in the starting lineup Saturday for the third consecutive game.

Manager Bobby Valentine has been reluctant to use Adrian Gonzalez in right field, so Youkilis and Will Middlebrooks are unable to be in the lineup simultaneously. Youkilis is expected to be traded relatively soon, and has received confirmed interest from the White Sox, Dodgers, and Pirates.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports talks for Kevin Youkilis are "moving very fast" and the Pirates "remain very much" on the short-list of interested teams.

The Pirates won't give up front-line prospects, but are willing to offer second-tier types, and have let teams know that Kevin Correia is available. The White Sox and Dodgers also have reported interest in Youkilis. If the Red Sox get the offer they want, a trade should come together in relatively short order.

FOXSports.com reports the Red Sox are "speaking with multiple clubs" about Kevin Youkilis and ''continue to move closer to a deal.''

The White Sox have engaged in heavy dialogue regarding Youkilis, while the Dodgers and possibly other teams ''remain in the mix.'' The Braves also recently scouted Youkilis, though it was likely just a matter of due diligence. The Red Sox are reportedly willing to assume a portion of Youkilis' contract, along with a $1 million buyout, to receive a better prospect in return.

According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have scouted Kevin Youkilis multiple times in the past week.

It was likely a matter of due diligence, as O'Brien concludes that Youkilis is worth considering if the Red Sox are willing to pay most of his contract. Multiple teams are involved in trade talks for Youkilis and one official told ESPN's Buster Olney on Friday that he believes the White Sox are best positioned to make a deal. If the Red Sox get the offer they want, a trade could come together pretty quickly.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, one official involved in trade talks over Kevin Youkilis believes the White Sox "might be best positioned" to make a deal with the Red Sox.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reported earlier this week that Youkilis is "being shopped everywhere." The veteran third baseman has been pushed into a part-time role due to hot-hitting rookie Will Middlebrooks, so it appears be may not be long for Boston. The White Sox have an obvious need at third base right now, but the Diamondbacks, White Sox, Dodgers, Indians and Pirates have also been mentioned as possible landing spots. The Red Sox will likely have to eat a sizable chunk of his $12 million salary for this season to facilitate a deal.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine informed Kevin Youkilis that he will be "sitting for a while" and Will Middlebrooks will be given the chance to play everyday.

Middlebrooks is on fire over the past couple of days, so the Red Sox can't afford to sit him right now. They also don't want to keep playing Adrian Gonzalez out of position in right field. It's fair to wonder whether we're entering the last days of Youkilis in a Red Sox uniform.

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington refused comment on specific talks he's had with teams about Kevin Youkilis, but he didn't deny that discussions have taken place.

On Monday, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com reported that Boston was stepping up efforts to move Youkilis. A high-ranking official with a National League club told the duo that Youkilis is "being shopped everywhere." The Diamondbacks, White Sox, Dodgers, Indians and Pirates are amongst teams with interest in the veteran corner infielder. Youkilis is batting a measly .215/.301/.341 during another injury-plagued season while being paid $12 million, so we don't imagine that the Red Sox will get much in return unless they're willing to eat a good portion of Youkilis' salary.

A high-ranking official with a National League club told Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com that Kevin Youkilis is "being shopped everywhere."

Rosenthal and Morosi report that Diamondbacks, White Sox, Dodgers, Indians and Pirates are "among the teams with varying levels of interest" in the veteran corner infielder. Youkilis is batting just .215/.301/.341 during another injury-plagued season while being paid $12 million, so we don't imagine that the Red Sox will get a ton in return unless they're willing to eat some of Youk's salary. Dealing Youkilis would allow the Red Sox to install Will Middlebrooks as their everyday third baseman.

Kevin Youkilis returned to action on Friday June 15.

Kevin Youkilis is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Marlins.

Youkilis is the latest member of the Red Sox lineup to get squeezed under National League rules. Will Middlebrooks will make the start at third base Wednesday while David Ortiz plays first base and Adrian Gonzalez starts in right field.

A source told Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona that the Diamondbacks are a "long, long shot" to add Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis this summer.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported recently that Arizona had interest, but it doesn't sound like that interest will translate to any sort of movement. The D'Backs already have a maxed-out budget and Youk is making a $12 million salary. Boston is doubtful to pick up much of what remains on his deal.

According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, the Diamondbacks have yet to initiate any talks regarding Kevin Youkilis.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Diamondbacks are among the teams showing early interest in Youkilis, but Gilbert doesn't believe they'll be willing to meet Boston's asking price. Youkilis is earning $12 million this year, with a $1 million buyout for next season. Whether the Red Sox would pick up a significant amount of his deal is currently unknown.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Phillies are among the teams showing early interest in Kevin Youkilis.

A Red Sox source told Heyman the talks were "very preliminary'' to this point, with another source saying the Sox "envision an eventual need to trade him, barring more injuries." Heyman also notes that the Red Sox' demands would lessen if someone is willing to pick up the rest of Youkilis' contract, which will pay him $9 million-plus over the rest of the season, plus a $1 million buyout for 2013. He lists the Indians, Angels, Rangers, Giants, Reds, White Sox and Brewers as teams that would also be a fit for the veteran infielder.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington described reports that the team is looking to trade Kevin Youkilis as "inaccurate."

"That's inaccurate," Cherington said. "Some teams have checked in on him. We haven't told any teams we plan to trade him. It's our job to listen if teams have interest. He's swinging the bat well since coming off the DL and [is] a big part of our team and lineup." We wouldn't expect Cherington to say anything else, as he's obviously not going to confirm that Youk is on the block. While it's possible they might not necessarily be looking to unload him, it's pretty clear that he can be had.