Apparently, times aren't too tough in the MLB, after all; on the heels of the six-year, $40.5 million Dustin Pedroia deal, Kevin Youkilis is set to receive a four-year, $40 million deal from the Sox. According to Tony Massarotti, per MLB Trade Rumors, the deal also includes a fifth year option at $13 million.

In spite of the fact that Youk will be 30 in March, he's improved every season he's been in the league and had a career year last season with a .312/.390/.569 batting line, 29 homers, 115 RBI and 91 runs scored, in addition to playing stellar defense at both corners. Locking him up over the next 4-5 years is a perfect approach for the Sox - yeah, they likely could have made a deal in the 6-8 year range, but this contract buys out two years of arbitration and two years of free agency, and if he starts to exhibit a decline, they can get him at a discount or choose not to re-sign him.

With the right side of the infield sealed up for at least the next four years, the Sox should continue to have one of the most productive and well-rounded infields in the American League. Regardless of what's going down on the left side at short and third, Youk and Pedey will hold it down.

Also, as pointed out by the infinitely knowledgeable Manny Ortez, the Sox now have both the reigning MVP and third place finisher in MVP voting this past year locked up for an average of five years (four years for Youk, six for Dusty) for two million less than the Yanks just paid to land injury prone starter A.J. Burnett for the same amount of years. And people wonder why it's impossible to just throw money at the top free agents and win a World Series without also cultivating your own young talent in the farm system...