Trade for Youkilis already equals a win

Toward the end of this afternoon's game word was spreading throughout the ballpark that Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge were traded to the Boston Red Sox for Kevin Youkilis. The funny thing was, Lillibridge came in the game to pinch run for Paul Konerko in the 9th inning.

In a repeat of Friday night's ballgame the Sox and Brewers went into extra innings scoreless only this time the game saw the Sox pull out a run.

After a walk to Adam Dunn to put runner's on 1st and 2nd, Brent Lillibridge was due up to bat in the 10th inning. Due to the trade happening while the game was in extras, Brent was pulled for pinch hitter Eduardo Escobar who hit a walk off single in the gap in left center field to give the Sox the 1-0 win and their first series win since early June. (They had dropped their previous five series.) Even better, the win puts the Sox back in first place by a 1/2 game since Cleveland lost earlier in the day.

So in essence, the Youkilis trade has already shown some benefit to the team.

Zach Stewart had been sent down to the minors after his joke of a start last week against the Cubs. Stewart gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings of work that Monday night and Brent Lillibridge wasn't doing much with the bat this season batting .175 with 2 RBIs in limited playing time this year.

All in all, this is a good trade seeing that the Sox sent off two players that weren't doing anything, got some cash from the Red Sox, and now have a real third basemen as Orlando Hudson has been an ass at third and is batting .194 in 28 games. Hudson will most likely be used as a utility man off the bench.

I don't expect Youkilis to be the player he was a few years ago but he should be a steady glove at third and provide something off the bat...at least more than what Morel and Hudson were. Hopefully.