Cubs Eyeing Coco
Last Sunday, I discussed how either Chicago ballclub were good suitors for Coco Crisp. Today, Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun Times is reporting the Cubs interest do indeed lie with the web gem specialist, Crisp.
"With only one other lefty bat in the lineup (right fielder Kosuke Fukudome), the Cubs hoped to get a secondary lefty near the bottom of the order while assuring a good glove in center from their top two near-ready outfield prospects. While Hendry’s attempt to trade for Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd was meant to provide a right-handed complement to the center-field winner, the focus now appears to be on Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp, a switch hitter who could start in center and bat near the top of the order."
Nothing substantial has come our way yet; however, Coco, who is slated to make only $4.75MM in ’08 and $5.75MM in ’09 with an $8MM club option for ’10, would be a very good fit for the Cubs and provide more time for Felix Pie to blossom under less stress. Wittenmeyer confidently predicts,
"The Cubs will trade for a veteran outfielder to start in center, and one of [Pie or Sam Fuld] will open the season on the bench, the other in the minors."
However, Covelli Loyce Crisp still needs to bring his average back up to be the lead-off guy the Cubs are seeking – his inability to do so is a big reason the Red Sox will, by all accounts, part ways.
By Nat Boyle
Cubs Considering So Taguchi?
Trusted reader Alex writes in with a George Ofman report on 670 The Score out of Chicago. Apparently the Cubs are considering signing free agent outfielder So Taguchi, which may be related to the Kosuke Fukudome signing. The is much less damaging than signing Kaz Matsui would’ve been, at least. But it could lead to Matt Murton being traded for less than he’s worth.
Kosuke Fukudome Projections
For all you fantasy geeks out there, I compiled projections from three sources to try to get a read on Kosuke Fukudome will do in his first season with the Cubs. The Cubs care most about his OBP, and the consensus is that it’ll be at least .370. His stolen base total will be of interest to fantasy owners, and that’s anyone’s guess.
Levine On Fukudome
Interesting stuff from ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine this morning regarding Kosuke Fukudome.
- The Rangers offered the most money.
- The White Sox were not outbid – they offered about the same as the Cubs. However, Fukudome did not want to displace Jermaine Dye from right field.
- Fukudome was just intrigued by the Cubs, and liked the idea of being their first Japanese player.
Kosuke Fukudome Signs With Cubs
UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:43pm: MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat says the deal is for four years and $48MM.
FROM 12-11-07 at 9:40pm:
Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio reports that the Cubs have signed Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year deal. Kaplan says it’s for about $50MM, maybe a hair more. Fukudome will be a free agent after the fourth year; there will be no arbitration.
The Cubs got their man for right field; he’ll provide a strong dose of OBP. The quality of available right fielders drops off drastically after Fukudome. The deal isn’t without risk, obviously, since Fukudome is untested in the Majors. Peter Gammons talked to a GM who described Fukudome as "a cross between Ichiro and a young, healthy Mark Kotsay."
Giants Interested In Rowand, Fukudome
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a few new tidbits concerning the Giants.
- They’re considering a late push for Kosuke Fukudome. Baggarly notes that Fukudome is expected to get at least 4/44. I think Fukudome makes a bit of sense for the Giants; he could be a draw.
- Baggarly says the Giants are in more heavily on Aaron Rowand. This makes less sense to me, as Rowand probably isn’t going to put butts in the seats. He is, however, going to require four or five years at $12-14MM per. Indeed, Buster Olney heard the Giants could be the one team willing to give Rowand five years. It would be a contract the Giants might regret. They’re not expected to be in contention until at least 2010.
- Nothing new on the Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios front. The general vibe, though, is that Brian Sabean will pass.
Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?
UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we’ve read. The Cubs don’t expect he’ll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They’re having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.
FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:
Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today – he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.
It’s hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who’s never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.
The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team’s offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.
Kosuke Fukudome Coming To MLB
UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 8:27am: Official word comes from the man himself – he’ll try his hand in the Majors in 2008.
UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 10:04pm: Here’s the latest from the Sun-Times. Urbon won’t hear from Fukudome until sometime later tonight. He’ll contact MLB teams on Tuesday at the earliest with the news. From that point, a deal might only take a day or two.
UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 2:30pm: This is getting annoying…Fukudome will decide whether to come to MLB tonight. We all expect him to come, so it’s been a lot of back and forth for nothing.
UPDATE, 12-9-07 at 12:14am: He’s coming this time, for real.
UPDATE, 12-7-07 at 8:08pm: Just listened to Dave Kaplan talking to Fukudome’s agent, Joe Urbon, on Sports Central/WGN 720. Urbon says Fukudome may decide whether to play in the U.S. on Monday. The process would move "very quickly" soon after that for Fukudome to decide on a team.
UPDATE, 12-7-07 at 8:03pm: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times spoke to Fukudome’s agent. He hasn’t decided yet. He will make a choice Monday or Tuesday, and would let the interested Japanese teams know first.
FROM 12-7-07 at 2:40pm:
In case there was any question, Ken Rosenthal reports that Kosuke Fukudome will announce that he’s leaving Japan for an MLB team.
Rosenthal says it’s down to the Cubs, Padres, and what I like to call a Mystery Team. The Rangers, Giants, and White Sox are candidates. And although Rosenthal doesn’t mention them, the Royals could be in the mix. Ken Davidoff reported on Wednesday that Fukudome had narrowed his choices to the Cubs and Royals (though it’s known that the Padres made a substantial offer). Note that Davidoff’s article came out after news of the Royals’ Jose Guillen signing broke.
Padres May Learn Today About Fukudome Offer
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a new column up, chock full of Padres rumors. Let’s discuss.
- The Padres have a three-year offer out to Kosuke Fukudome that may make him the highest paid Padre ever, aside from Jake Peavy. Kevin Towers expects to get an answer today from Fukudome’s agent, Joe Urbon. Urbon basically said that geography would only come into play if offers from competing teams were similar. Towers admitted he sees the Cubs as the lead horse in this race.
- San Diego has a strong need for an outfielder or two, especially now that Milton Bradley went to the Rangers for an extra million bucks. There was some sentiment from Bradley that the Padres were glad they were outbid, maybe even planned it that way. It would seem more clever if they’d offered Bradley arbitration, though.
- Mike Cameron, Geoff Jenkins, and Jason Bay remain on Towers’ radar as alternatives to Fukudome. Krasovic recently suggested the Reds could jump in on Cameron if they trade Josh Hamilton.
Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Mahay, Santana
Rounding up some odds and ends for you…
- I’d read that Akinori Otsuka recommended the Padres to Kosuke Fukudome, kind of glossed over the fact. But Jamey Newberg has is rightly disappointed in the Rangers reliever. After all, the Rangers have Fukudome in their sights, and Otsuka plays for the Rangers.
- A good source tells me the Yankees believe they are in the lead for Ron Mahay, and think it can be done this upcoming week. If it’s true that Mahay has narrowed his choices to the Yanks and Royals, and the Royals have little interest, this makes sense.
- MetsBlog reports that Johan Santana prefers to pitch for the Mets. He likes the idea of moving to the NL.