The last couple of years, his offensive struggles have been well documented, but has more than made up for it playing a really good defensive second base for the Chicago White Sox. With the possibility of not re-signing FA third baseman Kevin Youkilis, might Gordon Beckham be on the move again?

Although Beckham was mentioned as one of 4 guys who could be dealt by the Sox this offseason, there's a chance, albeit a slim one that #15 returns to the position he initially played when he first joined the Southsiders in June 2009. That would be third base.

New GM Rick Hahn is "reluctant", according to Tribune White Sox writer Mark Gonzales' Twitter, to move Beckham from second back to third, but also said that's a possibility in the event the Sox lose Youkilis to free agency and if the team is unable to land a suitable replacement at the "hot corner" in a possible trade. Hahn said that the team may consider "internal options" at third base in a worse case scenario.

The White Sox are in a tough spot, where Youkilis was reportedly set to earn as much as $13 million under his last contract with the Red Sox prior to his trade to the Southside last summer. As expected, the Sox announced right after the season that they weren't picking up Kevin's option. There have been reports that as many as 6 other teams, including the AL Central rival Cleveland Indians, have expressed interest in Youkilis' services this offseason.

The guy who was the White Sox opening day third baseman a year ago, Brent Morel, was saddled with lower back problems that cut short his 2012 season. Morel only hit .177 in just 113 at-bats prior to Youkilis' arrival. Morel's back now appears healthy and ready to compete for his old job again when the team reports to Glendale, AZ for Spring Training next year. Other than those guys, the Sox don't exactly have ML ready options in the minors who could fill the bill at the "hot corner" should they lose Youkilis and don't end up landing a replacement in a trade. The third base position is considered to be a weak position as the Sox and other teams get ready for next week's MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville.

3B has to be a productive power position even if it isn't awesome defensively, see Cabrerra. It would be dumb to move a great 2B that can't hit to 3B and still can't hit. Leave Beck alone and find some other solution.

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Pitt, I don't think the White Sox will move Gordon Beckham back to third base. It was a topic new GM Rick Hahn discussed with the likes of Tribune White Sox writer Mark Gonzales, CSNChicago.com's Dan Hayes & CSNC's Paul Michael Glaser-looking Chuck Garfien during a conference call yesterday.

Beckham is actually one of 4 Sox whom they've got to decide to offer arbitration by 11P tonight. There are $3 million reasons why Beckham is staying put in my opinion. Who plays second base for the Sox next year if Beckham leaves? Orlando Hudson is an unrestricted free agent...

since he does no actual reporting Gonzales just makes things up. theater of the mind as B&B like to say.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest