Kevin Youkilis is preparing for third base

The Red Sox have a tricky offseason ahead of them. They have to figure out if they can bring Adiran Beltre back, and if not, what to do about third base. Or maybe first base, because Kevin Youkilis is being a team player and is talking like he’s ready and eager to take over the hot corner:

“I’m preparing myself to play third base because if you prepare yourself to play third base and you play first, it’s an easy transition. So, for me, I try and prepare myself mentally to play third. I’ll probably take a little more ground balls this year, but hopefully we’ll find out sooner than later . . . I love third base. I love playing it, I enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. I would love to play third base, but wherever the team needs me I’ll play.”

If he is capable of handling third base -- and my guess is that he would be at least acceptable over there -- it makes the Red Sox way more flexible as they try to fill holes. Maybe you go with Beltre, but maybe not. Maybe you go after a portly, second-generation major league slugger who plays first base instead. There are simply more options out there with Youkilis at third, even if, long term, he’s better off at first. After all, worst case scenario: either Youkilis or whatever masher comes in moves to DH next year or whenever it is the Red Sox get tired of David Ortiz.