9:16 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Sports has reported that Kevin Youkilis has signed a contract with Japan's Rakuten Golden Eagles.

4:14 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Rays are interested in Kevin Youkilis, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

8:32 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Jack Curry of the YES Network, Yankees GM Brian Cashman called the agent of Kevin Youkilis to gauge interest, but was told the free agent wants to play near his home in California.

7:32 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Kevin Youkilis is beginning to draw interest as a "lower cost" corner infield option.

9:48 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) ESPN's Buster Olney, free agent Kevin Youkilis would like to continue his playing career in 2014.

2:33 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis' (back) agent, Joe Bick, said that there is a "pretty good chance" his client would have been ready to play had the Yankees reached the playoffs.

12:01 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) hit off a tee and took soft-toss Friday.

5:16 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) has begun to take dry swings.

6:01 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) said Sunday that he has not ruled out returning to the Yankees this season.

9:53 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) transferred INF Kevin Youkilis from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

12:13 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis has a herniated disc in his back and will undergo surgery to repair it on Thursday.

2:49 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) placed 3B Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list with a lumbar spine sprain.

5:18 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis went 0-for-7 at the plate in Thursday's extra innings loss to the Athletics.

4:35 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) went 1-for-4 with a single in his to the lineup Tuesday.

9:17 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis is not in the Yankees' lineup Sunday.

12:06 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis is not in Monday's lineup against the Indians.

12:07 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) activated 3B Kevin Youkilis from the 15-day disabled list.

8:42 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) went 0-for-2 with a walk Wednesday in his first rehab game with Double-A Trenton.

2:13 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Trenton Wednesday.

12:50 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) could begin on a rehab assignment as early as Wednesday.

1:24 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) will play in an extended spring training game Saturday.

12:17 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Kevin Youkilis (back) is "maybe a week" away from being activated.

2:18 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) took six at-bats in a simulated game Wednesday.

5:11 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) took three at-bats in an extended spring training game on Tuesday.

5:23 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) manager Joe Girardi said Kevin Youkilis (back) will take batting practice "pretty soon."

4:58 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) hit off a tee and took soft-toss on Wednesday.

12:09 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) believes he'll be ready to return from the disabled list when he's first eligible.

11:08 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) placed 3B/1B Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 28, with lower back tightness.

6:47 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees are likely to place Kevin Youkilis (back) on the disabled list.

6:18 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) MRI on Kevin Youkilis' back came back negative, but the Yankees are still considering placing him on the disabled list.

11:35 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is not Monday's lineup against the Astros.

12:22 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) will undergo an MRI on Monday.

7:13 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis' back remains stiff and will not be in the Yankees' lineup on Sunday.

8:42 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) returned to the Yankees' lineup Saturday.

12:03 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is out of the Yankees' lineup for the sixth straight game Friday.

12:10 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is out of the Yankees' lineup again Thursday.

11:41 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is out of the Yankees' lineup again Wednesday.

1:31 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is not expected to return to the Yankees' starting lineup until Thursday.

11:41 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is out of the Yankees' lineup again Tuesday.

5:18 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) manager Joe Girardi indicated Monday night that Kevin Youkilis (back) could miss more time.

2:21 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) was a late scratch from the Yankees' lineup Monday.

11:41 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is in the Yankees' starting lineup on Monday night against the Rays.

5:50 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is expected to return to the Yankees' starting lineup Monday against the Rays.

5:25 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (back) is expected to get the day off Sunday against the Blue Jays.

11:18 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis left Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with lower back tightness.

10:46 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis was removed in the sixth inning of Saturday's game against Toronto.

6:11 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis went 3-for-3 with an RBI single, a run scored and a walk in a win over the Orioles on Friday night.

1:03 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the Yankees past the Rays 7-6 on Sunday.

1:10 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis delivered a two-run homer and an RBI double in the Yankees' 11-9 victory over the Pirates on Sunday.

12:06 PM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis had a solo homer off Lance Lynn and a sac fly Monday versus the Cardinals.

11:31 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) his first appearance in six days, Kevin Youkilis went 0-for-3 against the Marlins on Friday, leaving him hitless in six at-bats this spring.

4:15 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis (oblique) is back in the Yankees' lineup Friday.

4:53 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game with a left oblique injury.

4:52 AM - Kevin Youkilis (NYY) Youkilis plans to revamp his batting stance for 2013.