Fukudome to Cubs?

by huckleberry on Dec 11, 2007 11:08 PM EST

i can't find anything on espn or anywhere else, but the headlines for the chicago news just came on wgn and they said the cubs got him. the news starts in about 5 minutes, so i'll see what they say...probably no terms yet, i'd imagine.

i am a cubs fan, but i think they're probably gonna overpay for this guy. maybe i'll be wrong...hopefully. there weren't too many options out there for them, with maybe the most reasonable being sam fuld from their own system.

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It's official...

...4/50ish MM...time to put him on the community poll nuckas!!!

It's Business Time

by uga007 on Dec 11, 2007 11:11 PM EST reply actions

why

what is so goddamned appealing about Fukudome?

BTW, the racism is a nice touch.

by Galt on Dec 12, 2007 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

"BTW, the racism is a nice touch."...

...lmao...good one.

It's Business Time

by uga007 on Dec 12, 2007 4:13 AM EST up reply actions

"nucka"

I wouldn't say that in mixed company.

by Galt on Dec 12, 2007 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

you do know what that's derived from, right?

Think less "uck" more "igg"....

by mraver on Dec 12, 2007 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

My fault...

...I was sincerely naive to this fact.

Pret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty good.

by uga007 on Dec 12, 2007 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

mlbtraderumors

www.mlbtraderumors.com has a report up, saying it's 4/50+.

Cubs could really do well with some OBP. Just gotta hope his game translates as well as Ichiro's and Hideki Matsui's. No real reason to doubt it, though.

by mraver on Dec 11, 2007 11:12 PM EST reply actions

Well

He was never as consistently good as those 2 in Japan, and I think it's a stretch on the deal, seeing nobody else wanted to go more than 33-36M, according to MLBTR.

by killa on Dec 11, 2007 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

Best case

looking at how ichiro, Matsui and Kazuo's numbers translated, best case scenario is about .305/.369/.485
More likely is about .290/.352/.441

This is me being polite.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 12, 2007 12:05 AM EST up reply actions

hey crimson I got a question

I saw your projection and want to know what the difference between having Luke Scott in RF and Fukudome? Luke is a lock to have OBP 360 SLG 500. From the ZR and other def rating systems Luke ranked right above average playing RF.

I am just asking the question because you projected Fukudome. Answer if you want.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 12, 2007 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

For $10 million less a year

I'd take Luke Scott, easy.

by Flynn Blake on Dec 12, 2007 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Great Scott!

I don't agree that Scott is 360/500 "easy", considering he was .351/.504 at age 29. That said, he's a ballplayer I'd love to have for his price. Houston really seems to have a knack for building guys up and then tossing them out with the trash (Lane and Ensberg come to mind).

by BobbyMac on Dec 12, 2007 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

traded.

Wow, after posting this, it appears that Baltimore agrees that he's worth having. Interesting deal.

by BobbyMac on Dec 12, 2007 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Money

I think Flynn nailed it with his comment. I like Scott and prior to the Fukudome signing I thought Chicago was a logical destination for Scott.

This is me being polite.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 14, 2007 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=315106

by wibadger on Dec 11, 2007 11:27 PM EST reply actions

Most recent support

Says its 4 years and $48 million. Not too bad for the cubbies.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Dec 11, 2007 11:55 PM EST reply actions

Nate Silver BP article

Fukudome's Pecota projections are in here - looks like an impact player to me. Wouldn't you add 4 prime years of Drew or Abreu for $48-50 million?

http://baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=699

by laughlin on Dec 12, 2007 8:54 AM EST reply actions

Meh...

Trying to predict anything Cubs is a fool-hearty undertaking. Don't believe me, check out what they predicted for the Cubs in the playoffs this year...

Send your top 50-100 prospects to slurveone@yahoo.com!!!

by slurve on Dec 12, 2007 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

4 prime years?

Fukudome is only 18 months younger than Drew.

by Galt on Dec 12, 2007 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

The F-Bomb!

I hope that my personal nickname for him catches on, and not with the negative connotation of "bomb". :>>

Anyway, as a Cubs fan I am THRILLED by this signing, and the pursuit of Brian Roberts. Seemingly for my entire life, I've watched this team parade a seemingly endless stream of non-walk-drawing righty batters out there. The fact that the Cubs seem to be starting to understand the concepts of "on base percentage" and "lineup balance" are thrilling to me.

Is Fukudome overpaid? Sure. Virtually every free agent is overpaid. Will he be a positive asset? I think that even if the .290/.352/.441 line above comes about (a lefty version of Matt Murton?) I won't be too disappointed. I'm hoping his OBP translates to something a little better than .352, but assuming a normal platoon split, that's mid-.360's against RHP, and I can live with that.

by BobbyMac on Dec 12, 2007 12:48 PM EST reply actions

if

brian roberts happens, i will be the happiest about this team i have ever been in my 42 years. granted, it's not the d'backs, brewers or indians in terms of sustainability, but for the few years they have that lineup i'll be pretty pleased. the pitching staff should, in theory, be able to relax a little with the knowledge that they'll get some consistent run support.

http://www.simdynasty.com/index.jsp?refer=mychiefs58

by huckleberry on Dec 12, 2007 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I admit I'll be optimistic as hell but...

I'll be even happier when our farm system starts pumping out our best talent.

We're a good team, but many of our best players will be entering their decline phases soon...that sucks.

by SenorGato88 on Dec 12, 2007 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

i have now heard

that the deal with baltimore may be for bedard and roberts.

http://www.simdynasty.com/index.jsp?refer=mychiefs58

by huckleberry on Dec 12, 2007 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

OOO--EEE

That would be sweet - especially if they can avoid giving up Pie.

Send your top 50-100 prospects to slurveone@yahoo.com!!!

by slurve on Dec 12, 2007 10:26 PM EST up reply actions

a lefty version of Matt Murton?

Exactly.

Don't get how you give The FuckDome 10+ mil per year when it appears Murton could give you similar numbers at the same position. This money could have been much better spent on a pitcher IMO. Zambrano-Hill-Lilly is not going to win a WS title.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by HuskerBob on Dec 14, 2007 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Fukudome vs Murton

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. But I wonder, how would you get a legit LHB into the lineup if it isn't Fukudome? Or do you think it's perfectly fine to lack any semblance of platoon balance?

by McLovin on Dec 14, 2007 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

Fukudome

How much did the Cubs factor in that he will bring in merchandise revenue? Maybe they overpaid, but the exposure he will bring in as the first Japanese (I believe) Cubbie may make him worth more from a marketing standpoint. (Not that the Cubs struggle from a loyal fan perspective.)

by bl on Dec 12, 2007 9:33 PM EST reply actions