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Kosuke Fukudome

Rangers Rumors: Kinsler, Laird, Padilla

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Here’s the latest hot stove buzz surrounding the Rangers.

  • The team will try again to lock up second baseman Ian Kinsler long-term.  It would be a five-year deal, buying out one year of free agency.  Kinsler had an inconsistent 2007.  He hit .298/.375/.667 with 9 HR in April and .256/.351/.393 thereafter.  Nice to see him draw 62 walks though.
  • Jon Daniels has had several teams ask him about Gerald Laird and Hank Blalock.  He’s not likely to sell low on Blalock.  But Laird is getting more costly and the Rangers want to use Jarrod Saltalamacchia full-time behind the plate.  He’s only 28 – young in catcher years – and has a cannon for an arm.  And while he didn’t hit much in ’07, he’s shown flashes of potential.  The Red Sox have checked in on him.
  • Daniels admitted publicly admitted that he’s open to trading Vicente Padilla.  Might as well not hide it.  This could be a fine buy-low opportunity for some team, if they can keep his attitude in check.  The Cubs had interest last summer but don’t figure to re-open the discussion.
  • The Rangers will look at Japanese options in Kosuke Fukudome and Hiroki Kuroda.  They also like Mike Lamb and Ben Broussard.  Those all seem like reasonable signings.

Latest Cubs Rumors: Crawford, Crisp, Ibanez

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Cubs rumors abound today.  Some sensible, some not.  Let’s catch up. 

  • According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs want to re-sign Kerry Wood and possibly give him the closer job.  Ryan Dempster could be pushed down the reliever totem pole or traded (he makes $5.5MM in the last year of his deal).  Dempster has expressed a desire to start in the past, but the Cubs don’t seem keen on it.  UPDATE: The Cubs are keen on Dempster as a starter, as Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 reported today that he will be switched to that role in ’08.  Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, or Kerry Wood will close.
  • Rogers also notes that the Cubs will bring Mark Prior back on the condition that he’ll accept an option for the 2009 season.  That way they won’t get burned if he does have a useful 2008.
  • Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in trading for Carl Crawford.  Problem is, that would require a king’s ransom in young players.  Miles adds that the Cubs are serious about Kosuke Fukudome, and signing him would leave the team with plenty of outfielders.  Phil Rogers echoes the Fukudome interest, also mentioning that the Rangers and Giants like him.
  • Michael Silverman says the Cubs are among several teams interested in Coco Crisp.  Within this piece Silverman says the Rangers are in on Crisp and the Red Sox like expendable catcher Gerald Laird. 
  • Another name on the Cubs’ radar: Raul Ibanez.  He makes $5.5MM in the last year of his deal, though he’s a liability in left field.  And the Cubs have Alfonso Soriano there already.  Larry LaRue also says the Tigers and Indians like Ibanez; the Tribe could offer Aaron Laffey.
  • Not sure why, but the Cubs are also interested in free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui.  Would the plan be to use him at shortstop?  The Padres also have an eye on Matsui.

Rosenthal’s Latest: A-Rod, Posada, Cameron

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Ken Rosenthal is back with a column loaded with rumory goodness.  Rosenthal’s column is like a drug.

  • Rosenthal doesn’t think the Red Sox will just ignore the availability of Alex Rodriguez, especially if someone lures Mike Lowell away with a five-year offer.  Rosenthal suggests a shorter term of five-years, $150MM with option years and opt-outs so that A-Rod could have one more payday as he theoretically approaches Hank Aaron’s record.
  • Jorge Posada will receive a "monster offer" from the Mets.  While the Mets can’t move him to DH down the road, they can put him at first base.  I’ve been saying 4/56, but 5/70 isn’t out of the question apparently.  Posada wants a four-year deal, and won’t sign with the Yanks without fielding other offers first.  Apparently the Marlins and Blue Jays are also in on him.
  • The Nationals may be kicking the tires on big names Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, but Jim Bowden is also a big Mike Cameron fan.  The Nats do seem a reasonable fit.
  • The Cubs are also in on Cameron, in addition to Kosuke Fukudome.  Rosenthal suggests the Cubs could put Felix Pie in left if they get Cameron.
  • Scott Boras client Kyle Lohse is looking for 4-5 years, $10-11MM annually.  No surprise there.
  • The Royals are looking to add a starter and a reliever, and maybe a closer if they decide to put Joakim Soria in the rotation.

Fukudome Receives Two Offers From Chunichi Dragons

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We have to consider the possibility that Kosuke Fukudome will remain in Japan.  He’s not committed to MLB in any way.  In fact, he recently received two offers from his current team, the Chunichi Dragons.  One was a one-year deal, and the other a multiyear deal. 

Fukudome said that he will think about these offers carefully over the next week and would like to receive offers from other teams for comparison.  Don’t expect any kind of official decision on whether he’ll stay in Japan until next week.

If Fukudome does stay in Japan, Jose Guillen probably becomes the best available free agent right fielder.

Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Burrell, Furcal, Rolen

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Two of my favorite local blogs have good hot stove posts for us today as part of Odds and Ends.

Fukudome, Kuroda, Kobayashi Rumors

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Here’s a link chock full of rumors involving Japanese ballplayers who might come over to MLB.  It’s also loaded with links most of you will not be able to read.

  • Masahide Kobayashi, the 33 year-old righthanded closer, will be represented by SFX.  Fellow free agents Kerry Wood and Jorge Julio are also using that agency, as far as I can tell.
  • Hiroki Kuroda is expected to fill for free agency on Monday.  Since there’s no posting fee involved, some have speculated his salary could exceed Daisuke Matsuzaka’s.  Matsuzaka will earn an average of $8.66MM per season during his six-year deal, and he also has a full no-trade clause.  The idea of Kuroda earning around $10MM per year jives with earlier remarks from Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider.
  • The deadline to fill for free agency in Japan is November 12th.  Kosuke Fukudome is still undecided about whether to jump over to MLB.  He’ll meet with his current team, the Chunichi Dragons, on Monday.  They’re expected to make him an offer.  The Hanshin Tigers may also make a play at $20MM over four years, using the money they received from posting Kei Igawa.
  • Some reports indicate that the Yankees may be interested in acquiring Kaz Matsui to play second base if they move Robinson Cano to third.  Doesn’t seem likely.   

Special thanks to Tak Iwanaga for translating.

Cubs Targeting A Right Fielder

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According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald, the Cubs have a lefthanded-hitting right fielder with power atop their offseason wish list.  The name that comes to mind: Kosuke Fukudome.

Is it possible that Fukudome gets lost in the winter shuffle a bit and becomes a mild bargain?  Something like three years, $30MM?  Problem is that if he’s only going to be a 15 HR guy, he needs to compensate for that by playing strong defense and posting a .380 OBP.

In terms of left-handed hitting right fielders with power, the Cubs could also consider Luke Scott, Ken Griffey Jr., and maybe Bobby Abreu if the Yanks cut him loose.  The first two would involve intra-division trades though.  Hopefully the Cubs don’t go for Shawn Green.

The Cubs could double-dip in the Japanese market, as Miles says they’ll look to add starting pitching depth.  Hiroki Kuroda has been the starter connected to the Cubs thus far this offseason.

Miles adds that Jim Hendry is satisfied with Ryan Theriot as a starter.  I liked the idea of Edgar Renteria, but failing that I’d consider giving Ronny Cedeno another shot.

The Cubs also seem to have some notion that they need to add speed, which seems like it could result in a bad decision similar to the Juan Pierre trade (ie, a Kaz Matsui signing or something).

Giants Interested In Kosuke Fukudome

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According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants are "seriously interested" in Kosuke Fukudome.  The Padres will be in on him as well.  Shea picked up this chatter from Japanese media at the World Series.

McCovey Chronicles is cautiously intrigued, but only around a 3/24 level.  Mike Plugh has speculated that Fukudome could cost $12-15MM over three or four years, but that was written in May.  Fukudome saw his power production decline and finished the year with elbow surgery.  Still, .294/.443/.520 is a great baseline even if it translates to 15 HR power.

This isn’t the first time the Giants have been linked to Fukudome.  Susan Slusser mentioned the possibility in early September.  Other teams said to be in the mix: the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox, and Padres.  I’m sure that list will continue to grow.  Perhaps the Yanks will exit the picture since they plan to exercise Bobby Abreu’s option.

Top 3 Japanese Free Agents

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I asked JapanBall’s Bob Bavasi for his thoughts on the Top 3 Japanese Free Agents who may come over to MLB this winter.  He kindly obliged, providing a couple of paragraphs on each.  His summaries are below.

1. Kosuke Fukudome, Dragons.  Left-handed hitting outfielder from the Dragons in Nagoya.  Can play any outfield position, but probably best in right.  A solid, no-nonsense type player, with a terrific glove and sound arm, he’s the best Japanese position player in either league.  Absolutely no secret about this guy. 

2. Hiroki Kuroda, RHP, Hiroshima Carp.  This fellow is probably a number three or four starter in the big leagues.   Was 12-8 this season in 26 starts with a 3.56 ERA.  A free agent last year, he decided to stay in Japan by signing a four-year deal with the Carp, but with a clause therein that allows him to test the waters when he so desires.  He’s probably going to do so now.  The Carp just announced that his arm was okay after a medical exam in the United States.  If you’re looking for more info on Kuroda, check out this post at East Windup Chronicle.

3. Masahide Kobayashi, RHP, Chiba Lotte Marines.  This closer was the number one draft pick by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1999.  He may be the best available reliever on the free agent market, though he has not made the sort of overtures about wanting to leave Japan as the other two.  During the recent playoffs in Japan, his manager, Bobby Valentine, noted that Kobayashi keeps "looking better every time out.”  True enough, and a reason I like him.

Ted Berg On Japanese Pitchers

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SNY’s Ted Berg has an informative blog post about Japanese pitchers who may come over to MLB for the 2008 season (found via MetsBlog).  Berg discusses the situations of Koji Uehara, Hiroki Kuroda, Kenshin Kawakami, Hitoki Iwase, Masahide Kobayashi, and Kazumi Saito.

So far only Uehara and Kuroda have been discussed here at MLBTR.  I’m planning to dig up some info on Iwase, but the other three guys are new to me.

Japanese position players to have on the radar include outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and shortstop Tomohiro Nioka.

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