From the looks of it, the Red Sox are going to be playing more baseball this season.
But they’ll be doing it without star third baseman Kevin Youkilis.
The banged-up 32-year-old was moved to the 60-day DL yesterday, freeing up a roster spot for newly activated right-hander Clay Buchholz.
Youkilis is suffering from a sports hernia and hip bursitis. He’ll undergo surgery in the offseason.
“I think the writing’s on the wall,” manager Terry Francona told reporters. “I don’t think you’re going to see him play again. I wish he would — he’s tried so hard and has been open to doing anything. But I just don’t know if that’s going to happen.”
Youkilis, who rode the Pawtucket shuttle before exploding onto the scene in 2006, finishes 2011 with a .258 batting average, .373 on-base percentage and .459 slugging percentage. The first two are career lows for a full season.
It’s the second consecutive year in which the Cincinnati native has missed significant time. He underwent season-ending surgery last August to repair a torn muscle in his right thumb.
