Cubs sign Japanese OF Fukudome

Dec 12, 2007 - 4:59 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs have secured Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, their No. 1 target this offseason.

The Cubs confirmed Wednesday they have agreed to a four-year deal with Fukudome, a deal which is subject to a physical that is scheduled for next week.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 reported Tuesday night that the deal is worth $50 million.

The Cubs beat out the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox to land Fukudome.

"On behalf of the entire Cubs organization, we're honored Kosuke Fukudome has chosen to become a member of the Chicago Cubs and very excited to introduce him to our great fans," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "We are looking forward to welcoming him to Chicago next week and helping make Wrigley Field his home."

Fukudome batted .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBI en route to winning the 2006 Central League Most Valuable Player award with the Chunichi Dragons.

However, he was limited to just 81 games last season after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. He is a career .294 hitter with a .400 on-base percentage.

A native of Kagoshima, Japan, Fukudome is a two-time Central League batting champion and four-time Gold Glove winner.

New Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman spent the last five years managing against Fukudome in Japan.

"Given lefthanded hitters over the course of my five years in Japan, there's really only one other Fukudome-type hitter - and I managed him - that I would put in the same classification," Hillman said last week at the winter meetings. "That was (Tampa Bay third baseman Akinori Iwamura)."

Hillman also compared Fukudome favorably to Seattle Mariners center fielder Ichiro Suzuki, whom he did not see play during his time managing abroad.

"He's short to the ball. He's got great balance," Hillman said. "He stays inside the ball. He's got more balance than most lefthanded hitters that are Japanese-style hitters with a leg lift. ... You could slot him in the No. 3 hole."

Fukudome is slotted as a corner outfielder, but Hillman feels he could play center field. Chicago wants to play Felix Pie in center and put Fukudome in right.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella has not spoken with Fukudome, but has managed several Japanese players during his days - especially in Seattle - and has come away impressed.

"The Japanese players are very disciplined," Piniella said. "They have got talent, and they enjoy playing baseball. Got a really good work ethic and they compete very well.

"You know, I've been fortunate. I had Ichiro in Seattle, what a great player he is, and (Kaz) Sasaki, the closer, he pitched exceedingly well."

Fukudome played for his country in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, coming off the bench to hit a two-run homer off Byung-Hyun Kim in a semifinal win over Korea. He added a pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth inning of the championship contest against Cuba.

Since he is a free agent in Japan, Fukudome did not require a posting fee like the $51.1 million the Boston Red Sox paid out to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka last offseason.