Kevin Youkilis' nine-year career with the Boston Red Sox concluded on Sunday in emotional fashion, when the third baseman bid a teary-eyed farewell to the Fenway Park crowd before his trade to the Chicago White Sox was finalized.

Youkilis was traded to the White Sox in exchange for pitching prospect Zach Stewart and utility player Brent Lillibridge, according to a White Sox official familiar with the deal. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.

The Red Sox also will be assuming in excess of $5 million of the remaining $7 million owed Youkilis for the remainder of this season. Youkilis can become a free agent after this season, and is due a $1 million buyout of a $13 million club option in 2013.

At Fenway Park on Sunday, Youkilis tipped his cap, blew kisses and shed a few tears to a crowd that was giving him a standing ovation after he was removed for pinch runner Nick Punto in the seventh inning of Sunday's 9-4 win over Atlanta. He was mobbed by teammates and even pushed out of the dugout for a curtain call by Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.

Amid rampant trade rumors and the undercurrent that Valentine might be pushing the longtime Fenway Park favorite all the way out of Boston, Youkilis got the full farewell treatment when he exited the game after tripling in his last at-bat as a Red Sox.

Valentine said after the game that he was told by general manager Ben Cherington just before Youkilis' final at-bat to take Youkilis out of the game. Valentine said he couldn't offer any more specifics.

When reporters entered the clubhouse after the game, the nameplate was gone from Youkilis' locker had been cleaned out.

Playing third base, his primary position over his career, Youkilis had a single and a triple today, giving him 961 hits in nine seasons for the Red Sox, the only major league team he has played for. That raised his batting average for the season to .233, by far a career low for the 33-year-old.

The Youkilis trade rumors have reached beyond Boston. Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy addressed rumors his team could be involved in a deal.

Earlier in the day, Youkilis' brother took a (parting?) shot at the Red Sox and Valentine, who created a mini-furor in April when he said he didn't think Youkilis was playing up to his previous standards. Since then, rookie Will Middlebrooks has received increased playing time at third base and is batting .331. Scott Youkilis, who owns a San Francisco restaurant, tweeted "Bobby V is a joke" and "Chicago is a better town anyway."

Contributing: Bob Nightengale