(26), fourth in on-base percentage (.399), sixth in RBIs (63), seventh in OPS (.911), and ninth in walks (49). For the season, he led all AL third basemen in fielding percentage, at .967. However, he batted only .258, his lowest MLB season average of his career. The Red Sox suffered a collapse late in the 2011 season, losing their playoff positioning. A source among the Red Sox claimed that Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey spent games they did not pitch in the clubhouse eating fried chicken and drinking beer; some Red Sox teammates speculated that Youkilis was the source of this information, alienating him from his teammates. 2012 On April 15, 2012, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine publicly questioned Youkilis' motivation and physical ability to succeed. Viewing rookie Will Middlebrooks as the superior third baseman, Valentine began to play Middlebrooks over Youkilis. The Red Sox traded Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox on June 24 for pitcher Zach Stewart and utility man Brent Lillibridge. The Red Sox agreed to pay $5.5 million of Youkilis' salary to help close the deal. In the seventh inning of that day's game, Ben Cherington, the Red Sox General Manager, informed Valentine that a transaction was pending. Youkilis hit a triple in his last at bat, and received a long standing ovation while tipping his helmet to the crowd after being taken out for pinch runner Nick Punto. Chicago White Sox (2012) The next day, Youkilis started for the White Sox, playing against the Minnesota Twins. He went 1–for–4 with a single in the 4–1 loss. He hit his first home run as a member of the White Sox on July 3, against the Texas Rangers off of Roy Oswalt. He also went 3–6 with 4 RBIs in that game. On July 9, 2012, Youkilis was named the American League Player of the Week, after batting .478 with three home runs and 10 RBI in a 5–1 span for the White Sox. White Sox manager Robin Ventura reported that Youkilis was a competitor with a "grinder mentality", who fit in well with his White Sox teammates. On July 16, Youkilis returned to Boston with the White Sox. During his first at bat, the Fenway Park crowd gave him a loud, extended cheer, causing Youkilis to step out of the batter's box and acknowledge fans. He went 3–for–4 with two doubles in the game.