XXKSXX
12-13-2007, 12:39 AM
Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and the Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement on a $48 million, four-year contract.
The deal is subject to a physical that is expected to take place next week, the Cubs said Wednesday.
Fukudome was considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball. The 30-year-old slugger was a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006.
He had surgery on his right elbow in August and sat out the Japan Series, but has 192 homers and a .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who won their first championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
General manager Jim Hendry said there is no concern about Fukudome's elbow and that he should be able to go from the first day of spring training.
After becoming a free agent, Fukudome drew interest from the Cubs, San Diego Padres and White Sox.
"Kosuke did have offers that economically were potentially better, but there are a lot of elements that played a role in his decision," agent Joe Urbon said. "Position, city, ability to win and being the first Japanese player on a club. All those things played a role. ... Of course economics played a role."
He will play right field for the Cubs, who traded outfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit this offseason and declined their contract option on veteran Cliff Floyd.
Hendry said Fukudome has been the Cubs' main target since the offseason began and that's why he told Urbon the team would respect Fukudome's time frame in deciding whether to leave Japan.
"This was option 1-2-3 as far as we were concerned," Hendry said. "We couldn't be happier. He changes the dynamic of our club."
Hendry said it would be up to manager Lou Piniella to decide where in the order Fukudome bats, but that he could fit anywhere from second to fifth because he has power and a good on-base percentage.
All-Star slugger Alfonso Soriano returns in left and speedy prospect Felix Pie is expected to take over in center after shuttling between the majors and minors last season. The Cubs hope Fukudome will provide the consistent left-handed bat they seek to go with righties Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.
Chicago won the NL Central title last season before being swept by Arizona in the first round of the playoffs. Next season will mark the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series title.
Fukudome was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs. He recently told the Dragons he wouldn't return next season.
Associated Press
The deal is subject to a physical that is expected to take place next week, the Cubs said Wednesday.
Fukudome was considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball. The 30-year-old slugger was a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006.
He had surgery on his right elbow in August and sat out the Japan Series, but has 192 homers and a .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who won their first championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
General manager Jim Hendry said there is no concern about Fukudome's elbow and that he should be able to go from the first day of spring training.
After becoming a free agent, Fukudome drew interest from the Cubs, San Diego Padres and White Sox.
"Kosuke did have offers that economically were potentially better, but there are a lot of elements that played a role in his decision," agent Joe Urbon said. "Position, city, ability to win and being the first Japanese player on a club. All those things played a role. ... Of course economics played a role."
He will play right field for the Cubs, who traded outfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit this offseason and declined their contract option on veteran Cliff Floyd.
Hendry said Fukudome has been the Cubs' main target since the offseason began and that's why he told Urbon the team would respect Fukudome's time frame in deciding whether to leave Japan.
"This was option 1-2-3 as far as we were concerned," Hendry said. "We couldn't be happier. He changes the dynamic of our club."
Hendry said it would be up to manager Lou Piniella to decide where in the order Fukudome bats, but that he could fit anywhere from second to fifth because he has power and a good on-base percentage.
All-Star slugger Alfonso Soriano returns in left and speedy prospect Felix Pie is expected to take over in center after shuttling between the majors and minors last season. The Cubs hope Fukudome will provide the consistent left-handed bat they seek to go with righties Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.
Chicago won the NL Central title last season before being swept by Arizona in the first round of the playoffs. Next season will mark the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series title.
Fukudome was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs. He recently told the Dragons he wouldn't return next season.
Associated Press