The Chicago Cubs and Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome have reached an agreement to bring him to the North Side of Chicago. Details of the contract have yet to be disclosed but the deal is reportedly worth $48 million or $50-$56 million over four years, depending on your source.
This comes the same day that Fukudome announced his intentions to “accept the challenge” of playing in the major leagues. He had spent the last nine years playing for the Chunichi Dragons where he lead them to their first Japan championship in 52 years while posting a .305 career batting average and .397 on-base percentage.
Fukudome had been fielding offers from the Dragons and the Yomiuri Giants, who are comparable to the Yankees of Japan before choosing to come to the major leagues where he was rumored to have drawn interest from the Cubs, White Sox, Padres, Giants and Rangers.
Fukudome, the Cubs top off-season priority, is the type of player that satisfies both the new school and old school philosophies of the Cubs organization.
From all accounts, Fukudome is a legit five-tool outfielder who is fundamentally sound in all facets of the game. In addition, Fukudome is the left-handed hitting on-base machine that was lacking from a right-handed heavy, free-swinging line-up. He could see time in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth spots in the order. Manager Lou Piniella described him as a mix of Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.
He is an athletic outfielder with a strong throwing arm who can play all three outfield positions, which could prove to be important seeing how Piniella likes to mix-and-match line-ups.
Fukudome will likely be used primarily in right field, possibly giving the Cubs their first prime-time right fielder since Sammy Sosa famously quit on Cubdom when he walked out during the final game of the 2004 season.
The signing is without risk though, especially when taking into consideration his last season in Japan was cut short because of right elbow surgery that removed bone chips from his elbow.
What is it with the Cubs and guys with arm surgeries? I digress.
It is also worth noting that Fukudome is truly untested in the Major Leagues, despite playing against Major League-talent in the World Baseball Classic.
Another issue that may come up is Fukudome’s stamina. He has never had to take part of the rigors of a 162 game schedule, let alone the disproportionate amount of day games the Cubs play.
The biggest issue could be the transition period that Fukudome will be going through in his rookie year. He will be adjusting to a new league, playing against better competition, in front of bigger crowds, with new teammates. Not to mention the question of whether or not his offensive numbers will translate from Japan ball to big league ball.
Regardless, for the second straight off-season the Cubs get their man, signing a top-flight free-agent in his prime.
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