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It's Official: Kevin Youkilis Joins Yankees On 1-Year Deal

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Kevin Youkilis and the Yankees have finalized their $12 million, one-year contract, giving New York a third baseman for the first half of next season while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery.

The deal with the three-time All-Star had been agreed to Tuesday, pending a physical, and the Yankees announced it Friday.

Youkilis joined Babe Ruth, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon as Boston players who made the switch to the Bronx in the heated rivalry. He'll get an early look at his old club: The Red Sox are set to open at Yankee Stadium on April 1.

"There's nothing he likes better than being in the middle of the chance to win a World Series," Joe Bick, Youkilis' agent, told Jack Curry of the YES Network earlier this week. "He feels like that's the case here."

Bick added that his client was "some kind of fired up."

New York has also reached an agreement to retain outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, according to WFAN and CBSSports.com baseball insider Ichiro Suzuki.

YOUUUUK! What should John Sterling's home run call sound like? Give it your best shot in the comments...

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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