Report: Kevin Youkilis to sign with Japanese team

Kevin Youkilis is a three-time All Star who has a career .861 OPS. (Brad Mangin/Getty Images)

The Rakuten Golden Eagles have been in the news a lot lately, as they are the Japanese team with the rights to star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

Now, they're making news with a big name in American baseball, as they have agreed to a deal with Kevin Youkilis, according to Japanese media outlet Nikkan Sports. Terms of the deal are unknown.

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Youkilis, who won two World Series with Boston, played only 28 games with the Yankees in 2013 because of chronic back problems. He hit .219 with two home runs.

The third baseman, 34, is a career .281 hitter with 150 home runs and 618 RBIs in 10 big league seasons.

Rakuten lost third baseman Casey McGehee, who recently signed with the Marlins.

The Yankees had shown interest in Youkilis this winter, but he reportedly wanted to be closer to his home on the West Coast.

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