Baseball-Japan's Golden Eagles swoop for Yankee Youkilis

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Infielder Kevin Youkilis has left the New York Yankees and agreed a deal with Nippon Professional Baseball's Rakuten Golden Eagles, the Japanese champions said on Saturday. Sendai-based Rakuten did not reveal financial details of the contract for the 34-year-old three-times All Star and twice a World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox. Japanese media said Youkilis had signed a one-year deal for 300 million yen ($2.88 million). Youkilis, a first and third baseman, is a career .281 hitter with a .382 on-base percentage. He spent eight years with the Red Sox where he won championships in 2004 and 2007 before joining the Chicago White Sox for a season in 2012. He suffered an injury-marred 2013 with the Yankees, playing only 28 games which was the least of his decade in the majors ($1 = 104.0950 yen) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by John O'Brien)