Greinke picks Dodgers over Rangers

LOS ANGELES: Zack Greinke showed up alone to a mid-November meeting at Dodger Stadium, asking as many questions as he answered. When he left three hours later, the pitcher thought he may have found his new team while the Dodgers brass knew they had to land the top arm on the open market.
They did, signing Greinke to a $147 million, six-year deal that is the richest for a right-hander in history. The Dodgers beat out Texas and the rival Los Angeles Angels, for whom Greinke pitched last season.
His introduction on Tuesday culminated a $183 million spending spree by the Dodgers in which they also signed South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, who got a $36 million, six-year deal.
Greinke says he decided on the Dodgers because he believes they have a team in place that could win the World Series for several years. He says their offense is as deep as any team in baseball.
Youkilis, Yanks
said to reach deal
In New York, the New York Yankees reached a deal to sign former Boston Red Sox icon Kevin Youkilis on Tuesday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, filling New York's immediate need for a third baseman.
The one-year contract for $12 million is pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.
Youkilis, a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series winner with Boston, is expected to play third base while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery. Rodriguez plans to have the surgery in mid-January and could be sidelined until the All-Star break or beyond.
For years, Youkilis was one of the more prominent faces in the fierce Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, and his intensity made him among the more popular players at Fenway Park. He and Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain had a feud that exemplified the ill will between the clubs, and now they're teammates.
Eric Chavez, the backup Yankees third baseman for most of last season, joined Arizona last week. New York considered several options as a stopgap at third, including Jeff Keppinger and Mark Reynolds, but both accepted deals with other teams.
Youkilis turns 34 in March. He played third base and first base last season for Boston and Chicago White Sox.
Youkilis was traded to the White Sox last June as Boston's new management reshaped the Red Sox roster. He combined to hit a career-low .235 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs.
An All-Star in 2008, 2009 and 2011, Youkilis won a Gold Glove at first base in 2007. He is a .283 hitter with 148 home runs in nine seasons, and was on Boston teams that won the World Series in 2004 and 2007.
With the Yankees, Youkilis could also play first base to give Mark Teixeira a break and could be the designated hitter.
There is still uncertainty about when Rodriguez will return. He is a 14-time All-Star and baseball's priciest player, with his current overall contract worth $275 million.
Rodriguez hit .272 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs last season, and is fifth on the career homers list with 647. He slumped to .120 with zero RBIs in the playoffs, and was benched and replaced by a pinch hitter in key situations.
Choo to Reds,
Bauer to Indians
in 3-team trade
In Cleveland, the Cleveland Indians traded outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds and acquired prized pitching prospect Trevor Bauer from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team deal completed on Tuesday.
Center fielder Drew Stubbs was sent from Cincinnati to Cleveland as part of the nine-player swap.
In addition to Stubbs, the Indians received Bauer, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, and pitchers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from the Diamondbacks.
Cleveland shipped Choo, infielder Jason Donald and about $3.5 million to the Reds, while sending left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson to Arizona.
The Diamondbacks also received shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius from Cincinnati.
Choo, who has been Cleveland's primary right fielder since 2006, will play center and bat leadoff for Cincinnati.
"It was very difficult giving up home-grown talent, but we think Choo can fill the missing parts in our lineup both offensively and defensively," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement. "He is an exciting player, and we expect him to set the table."
Dealing Choo was almost a necessity for the Indians. He was entering the final year of his contract and is eligible for free agency in 2013. The Indians have not been able to work out a deal with agent Scott Boras, who has turned down several extensions in recent years.