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NEW YORK (AP) -- Kevin Youkilis is leaving the major leagues after an injury plagued season and heading to Japan.
The three-time All-Star has agreed to a one-year contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League.
''They made it very apparent right from the start they were quite interested in Kevin being there,'' agent Joe Bick said Friday.
A 34-year-old first baseman and third baseman, Youkilis will have a $4 million base salary and can earn $1 million in bonuses - including some based on walks, a provision not allowed in major league contracts.
After nine seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis signed a $12 million, one-year deal with the New York Yankees. But his back started to bother him in mid-April, and an epidural injection didn't improve a lumbar spine sprain.
The three-time All-Star has agreed to a one-year contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League.
''They made it very apparent right from the start they were quite interested in Kevin being there,'' agent Joe Bick said Friday.
A 34-year-old first baseman and third baseman, Youkilis will have a $4 million base salary and can earn $1 million in bonuses - including some based on walks, a provision not allowed in major league contracts.
After nine seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis signed a $12 million, one-year deal with the New York Yankees. But his back started to bother him in mid-April, and an epidural injection didn't improve a lumbar spine sprain.