Cubs sign Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome
The News
The Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement with Japanese star outfielder Kosuke Fukudome on a four- year $48 million deal to be their right feilder. The Cubs had been targeting Fukudome since the beginning claiming that he was options 1,2 and 3 this off- season. Fukedome gives the Cubs the left- handed bat they had been clamoring for after letting Cliff Floyd sign with Tampa Bay and trading Jacque Jones to Detroit. Fukedome is widely considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball and was a key member of the team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006. In August Fukudome underwent surgery on his right elbow, and sat out the Japan Series, but the Cubs believe he will be ready for the start of the season. In nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, Fukudome has 192 homers with a .305 batting average and .397 on-base percentage, while being a part of the first Chunichi Dragons squad to win the Japanese championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
Fantasy Outlook
Fukudome could bat anywhere from #2- #5 in the order, but as the only left handed bat in a lineup including Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano, I would expect Fukudome to start the season in the middle of the lineup at #5. It's hard to predict how Japanese talent will carry over into the big leagues, but I expect Fukudome to struggle initially much like Hideki Matsui did. Like Matsui though I expect Fukudome to find his groove after a few months hitting his stride in late June/ July. It's again hard to gauge what kind of production to expect from Fukudome, but I would expect him to hit below his average in his first season topping out around .280 with 15-18 home runs and anywhere from 70-90 RBI's depending on his spot in the batting order. While he may not be a super star right away like Ichiro was, I do expect Fukudome to provide a solid bat for the Cubs lineup and he will likely show his true ability toward the end of this coming season and be a fulfill his expectations in 2009.
The Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement with Japanese star outfielder Kosuke Fukudome on a four- year $48 million deal to be their right feilder. The Cubs had been targeting Fukudome since the beginning claiming that he was options 1,2 and 3 this off- season. Fukedome gives the Cubs the left- handed bat they had been clamoring for after letting Cliff Floyd sign with Tampa Bay and trading Jacque Jones to Detroit. Fukedome is widely considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball and was a key member of the team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006. In August Fukudome underwent surgery on his right elbow, and sat out the Japan Series, but the Cubs believe he will be ready for the start of the season. In nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, Fukudome has 192 homers with a .305 batting average and .397 on-base percentage, while being a part of the first Chunichi Dragons squad to win the Japanese championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
Fantasy Outlook
Fukudome could bat anywhere from #2- #5 in the order, but as the only left handed bat in a lineup including Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano, I would expect Fukudome to start the season in the middle of the lineup at #5. It's hard to predict how Japanese talent will carry over into the big leagues, but I expect Fukudome to struggle initially much like Hideki Matsui did. Like Matsui though I expect Fukudome to find his groove after a few months hitting his stride in late June/ July. It's again hard to gauge what kind of production to expect from Fukudome, but I would expect him to hit below his average in his first season topping out around .280 with 15-18 home runs and anywhere from 70-90 RBI's depending on his spot in the batting order. While he may not be a super star right away like Ichiro was, I do expect Fukudome to provide a solid bat for the Cubs lineup and he will likely show his true ability toward the end of this coming season and be a fulfill his expectations in 2009.
posted by Aaron Sobel at
12:50 PM
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