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In a radio interview Thursday, new Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the team plans to pursue third baseman Kevin Youkilis this winter, reports ESPN Chicago:
"I had a real good conversation with Kevin when we informed him we were declining the option the other day," Hahn said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000...
"He knows there is no confusion in his mind about our desire to bring him back. So we're going to stay on that, stay in communication. It's not a great time to be a club in the free-agent market looking for a third baseman, the player pool is not real deep, so I expect Kevin will be popular, but we're going to be in on that until the end, I think."
The 33-year-old Youkilis had a $13 million club option for 2013 but the White Sox felt that the price was too steep. Hahn also stated that he has no illusions about the fact that Youkilis will probably listen to offers from other clubs, but he hopes that the White Sox will come out ahead in the end.
Acquired by the Chi Sox in mid-June after a slow start with the Red Sox, Youkilis hit .236/.346/.425 with fifteen home runs in eighty games with Chicago.