BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox and infielder Kevin Youkilis agreed to a four-year contract on Thursday, a baseball official told The Associated Press.

The deal would reportedly guarantee Youkilis about $41 million, with a $13 million club option for 2013 or a $1 million buyout. The official, who asked not to be identified because the deal had not been announced, said the financial terms first reported by ESPN.com were pretty close.

The deal buys out Youkilis' last two years of arbitration eligibility and delays his chance to become a free agent by at least two years. Youkilis had filed for arbitration earlier Thursday, a formality that would be negated if he passes a physical and the long-term deal is finalized.

Youkilis finished third in AL MVP voting last season, behind Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau. Last month Boston locked up Pedroia, who wouldn't have been eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season, with a six-year, $40.5 million deal.

Youkilis batted .312 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs and won the Hank Aaron Award as the AL's top offensive player. But his most impressive work might have been in the field, where he moved from third base to first when the Red Sox acquired Mike Lowell, then back to first when Lowell was injured.

Youkilis, who won a Gold Glove at first base in 2007, made just four errors in 125 games there last season.

Long lauded for his on-base percentage — the book "Moneyball" dubbed him "The Greek God of Walks" — Youkilis also moved into the cleanup spot in the batting order when enigmatic slugger Manny Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 48 games batting fourth, Youkilis hit .299 with 10 homers, 17 doubles and 45 RBIs.