Cubs Sign Kosuke Fukudome

The Cubs have acquired outfielder Kosuke Fukudome in a four-year deal worth $48 million. The highly-sought outfielder who had earlier announced his intention to play in America now has a home. Say hello to the Friendly Confines.

Cue the chant “Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!” Well, no World Series titles yet, but maybe this is a player who will help steer the Cubs into the playoffs (only to promptly be eliminated in the first round, like they did in 2007?). Let’s wait and find out, but I am not holding my breath.

Fukudome, 30, had considered multi-year deals from the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants and his former team, the Chunichi Dragons.

Fukudome was pursued by the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers. In the end, it’s the Cubs that take home the prize, who happens to be a mix between Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki (Hichiro? Mazuki? Hisuzu?), according to some scouts.

~ by mlb2007playoffs on December 11, 2007.