CHICAGO -- Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and the
Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $48
million, four-year contract.
The deal is subject to a physical, according to a person
familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity
because no announcement had been made. The agreement could be
finalized as early as Wednesday.
ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago first reported the agreement.
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.
After becoming a free agent, Fukudome drew interest from the
Cubs, San Diego Padres and White Sox.
He is expected to play right field for the Cubs, who traded
outfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit this offseason and declined
their contract option on veteran Cliff Floyd.
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 this season. The Cubs hope
Fukudome will provide the consistent left-handed bat they seek to
go along 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.
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, saying he wanted to move to the major leagues.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.