Fukudome May Not Commit to U.S.

by cwyers on Nov 15, 2007 11:13 AM CST Comment 40 comments

Via Ken Rosenthal: one of his sources says that Fukudome is considering staying in Japan, and is weighing offers from multiple Japanese teams.

He has met with the Chunichi Dragons, his current team, as well as the Tokyo Giants. He hasn't, so far as I know, talked to any MLB club. His decision will be known "after Thanksgiving," again from Rosenthal's source.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but it looks as though Fukudome is hardly a done deal for us. (Which people have been cautioning for a while now anyway.)

My personal fear is that whiffing on Fukudome would lead Hendry & Co. to pull a Juan Pierre and do something really stupid just to show that they did something. Ugh.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Sheeesh

this has been posted in another diary, what is this crap.

Haha, just kidding

Hes coming over in my opinion Money speaks Japanese too.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Nov 15, 2007 11:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Possibly

this could be the official Fukudome breathless update diary, so it has a home of its own.

I will be happy to contribute when I can.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Nov 15, 2007 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

last time I checked, money only spojke Chinese...not all Asian languages are the same. How presumptuous of you!

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and yes..

I meant spjoke.

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh hey

that's pretty funny. Notice smart guy, this has new news in it.

Funny you can't pick up on that...

Seriously Ha!

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This was directed at Hammer

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you just dont get it

.oh wait you dont.

This was directed at you.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Nov 15, 2007 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I was going to post this morning about this article and the overall "Fukudome Hostage Crisis" we are currently enduring, and hoping it would not go the way of the famous "Rafael Furcal Hostage Crisis" of late 2005.

We await further developments......

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Nov 15, 2007 11:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

if you look closely, you'll see this confirms that him coming is a done deal. Some of the comments made by teams and Fukudome in the last week(not to mention some of the suspected club leaked rumors) tell me he's in heavy talks with someone, and they've moved deep into the money portion of the conversation. This is called a bluff, and I'm sticking to my opinion that he'll be signed with someone by Saturday. Likely the Cubs.

by Damen Jackson on Nov 15, 2007 11:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're correct.

If we don't get Fukudome, there isn't any LH FA OF that is as good as JJ. I can't imagine that Hendry would have traded JJ without feeling good about Fukudome.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Nov 15, 2007 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this.

Frankly, if he had no intention of coming here, I doubt that he would have even declared free agency -- he probably would have re-signed with the Dragons before the season ended.

Remember, he could have come last year but that would have required the posting process. Maybe he didn't want to go through that, and knowing that he could come here as a complete free agent this offseason probably made him wait.

I think he's coming to the US, and I think he'll be a Cub, possibly as soon as next week.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 15, 2007 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he's coming

I've read in other places (not sure where or I'd post a link) that the offers are for 3 or 4 years at a total of $15-20M. The preliminary estimates are that he'll get 5 years for $50M from a US team. That's a lot of money to turn one's back on.

by NO100 on Nov 15, 2007 11:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That's a lot of yen!

$50 million = 5,511,463,850 yen

by John Q Freejazz on Nov 15, 2007 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just like

Takashi Saito after last season said he was going to return to Japan after one year in the majors to be closer to his family.

It was an attempt to create more leverage and Saito admitted it. (In fact, he was enrolling his kids in school in Southern California at the time.)

I suppose we could all be wrong, after all, Kuroda was a free agent last year and opted to stay in Japan. But Fukudome has been hinting about playing in the states for at least three years now (and maybe more). I'd put the odds of him coming to MLB this season at over 90%.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh77 on Nov 15, 2007 1:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, this could all be attempts at leverage.

But who knows which side he's trying to leverage? Is he trying to get more money from the US team, or from the Japanese team?

I'm just starting to be uncomfortable with how much emphasis is put on Fukudome in the Cubs' offseason plans, and am having flashbacks to the Furcal/Pierre thing. And as much as you love Donaldson versus Mitre/Nolasco/Pinto, you have to factor in that year of suck we got from Pierre, too -- now, that was a Cubs team that probably wasn't competing anyways, so it didn't really matter.

Next year's Cubs team COULD compete, but it won't help efforts if we put some over-the-hill slugger out in right for $8 mil per. We just finally dumped our LAST mistake in the free-agency right fielder's market.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 15, 2007 1:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

you're right about the Furcal comparison though. While I think the chances that Fukudome comes stateside is over 90%, I know that the Giants and the Padres are interested in him too, and those are Pacific coast teams with large Japanese communities. He might feel more comfortable in California, even if we offer the most money. Beyond that, I can see a team like the Rangers getting into the bidding too.

Everyone seems to think we're the favorite for Fukudome and Hendry seems to be clearing outfield space for him. (Christina Kahrl at BP likes that Jones/Infante trade for us, by the way.) But we were the favorites for Furcal too, and look how that worked out.

However, if we don't get Fukudome, I'd be happy with an outfield of Soriano, Pie and Murton (or DeRosa, I guess). Don't think Hendry would though. At least Hendry seems to realize that OBP is a problem.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh77 on Nov 15, 2007 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cubs really want to show the fans...

...that they're doing something to improve on this year's one-and-done team. They've got roughly $20 mil burning a hole in their pockets with a very weak free agent market. And they backed out of the A-Rod sweeps, punting on the Soriano of this year's market; Fukudome is probably the only thing standing between the Cubs and the second tier free agents.

This is starting to worry me.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 15, 2007 1:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The one huge difference

between the time that the Cubs were going after Furcal and now is that now the Cubs are in a much better position to make a trade if they have to. Now there is a farm system with decent prospets and the Cubs have some excess major leage starting pitching (though, admittedly, it is more bottom of the rotation stuff).

The Cubs could make a trade for a piece like Fukudome if they had to.

by NO100 on Nov 15, 2007 1:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The question(s) -

Is Jim Hendry in 2003-2006 mode where he won't pay beyond a certain price for a player or is he in 2006-2007 mode where he'll pay what it takes to get who he thinks the team needs. There are good reasons to think the 2003-2006 mode was the Andy McPhail mode and that Hendry will do what it takes to get the player he wants.

The next question, then, is wheter or not Fukudome wants to go to the team that offers the most money or if being in flyover country would be a serious problem for him.

But I'm convinced he's coming to the states and I think Hendry is in spend-what-it-takes mode.

Fwiw, I do think there are some decent non-Fukudome options, especially if you're willing to play Pie in RF for a year or two.

by DGU on Nov 15, 2007 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing with Furcal though

wasn't really the Cubs being cheap. The Cubs offered Furcal more money over a longer contract. The Dodgers offered more money per year but a short, three year contract. Smart move on their part. But Hendry's problem was that Furcal accepted the Dodgers offer without giving the Cubs a chance to counteroffer. Which indicates to me that the Cubs were never Furcal's first choice and he wanted to go to the Dodgers all along.

None of us know what Fukudome thinks of the Cubs or Chicago. I don't see Seattle, Boston or the Yankees as bidders, so that cuts out the three big choices for Japanese free agents.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh77 on Nov 15, 2007 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Padres

"While I think the chances that Fukudome comes stateside is over 90%, I know that the Giants and the Padres are interested in him too"

Forget about San Diego.

The only way they get Fuku is if he accepts 1/3rd of what the Cubs are offering and even then the Pads would expect his old team in Japan to pay 2/3rds of that portion to take him "off their hands."

That's one cheap, bottom scavenging team.

Heck, that's what they're trying to do with Edmonds, now. They'll sign him if the Cards will also throw lots of money their way.

Fret not the Pads, they're bargain basement shoppers. It's Wal*Mart or bust for that team.

Topeka, Kansas huh! Let the good times roll!

by Kurt on Nov 15, 2007 10:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AL

Ease our pains and thoughts, dig deep with your 'insider' guy and let us know if we can expect Fukudome, or the Domer or Dome. That OBP must play the outfield for us

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Nov 15, 2007 1:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll see what I can do.

If I find out anything, it'll be here.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 15, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully

the optimists are right about Fuke-daddy. The mere thought of Geoff Jenkins (or a similar plummer) in right field for us makes me want to spew.

Cubs chances in '08? Beats the FUK-U-DO-ME!

by Hugest Canadian Cubs Fan on Nov 15, 2007 1:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Also

I've read in places that the Mariners are "strong favorites" to land Kuroda, mostly because they have a Japanese catcher, along with Ichiro...

Cubs chances in '08? Beats the FUK-U-DO-ME!

by Hugest Canadian Cubs Fan on Nov 15, 2007 1:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd be fine with that

I think Kuroda will be a decent starter in the majors, but I think Gallagher, Hart and Marshall will too. Kuroda isn't anything special.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh77 on Nov 15, 2007 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're so right

especially in my mind Kevin Hart - great stuff and composure for a young guy. I haven't given up on Marshall either. I think Gallagher would be a good arm in the pen.

Cubs chances in '08? Beats the FUK-U-DO-ME!

by Hugest Canadian Cubs Fan on Nov 15, 2007 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Furcal

Remember Jim Hendry wanted Rafael Furcal pretty bad, and would have matched the Dodgers contract, but Andy MacPhail wouldn't let him.

Jim Hendry has shown over the last year that when he really wants a player he will go all out to get him. So If Fukudome decides to come to America I think the Cubs will get him. But he could possibly stay in Japan, because he doesn't wanna leave his country.

by cubsfan25 on Nov 15, 2007 2:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

mcphail

you can't spell it without fail(ure)...well you can..but...you get the point..

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Nov 15, 2007 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Options?

If The Domer (Fukudome) doesn't sign here, what are our options?

At that point, I see us jumping full on into the CF market - Andrew Jones (lefty bat, correcct?) would seem logical, with Pie/Murton forming a platoon in RF (which, coincidentally, would probably be good for both players).

That, or we plow the money into starting pitching, although I'm not sure anyone's worth it out there on the market.

Or we work a trade (feasible, but it'd mean giving up some pitching) to land a Carl Crawford type...

I still think we land the Domer...too big of a marketing opportunity for him and Japanese advertisers in one of America's largest markets, even if it doesn't have the Japanese population of San Francisco/Seattle...

by Chadnudj on Nov 15, 2007 4:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jones...

is actually right handed. I say that we don't get on the Andruw Jones train. I live around Atlanta and got to see him swing day in and day out. His swing has gotten very bad, very fast. And there are multiple things wrong with it too. So, I think that Andruw could hit 30+ homers for us, but could also give us a .240 batting average and a load of strikeouts. That isn't necessarily what I want in center. Plus, Boras is pretending that 2007 didn't happen and still charging around $15-17 million a year for him. That wouldn't be a very good sign.

by gacubbie20 on Nov 15, 2007 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Andruw is willing to sign a 1 yr deal...

...to prove himself and put up big numbers so he can cash in on a big multi-year contract next offseason, I'd be willing to risk it if we don't get Fuku-daddy (love that nickname, btw).

However, before you all hit that Reply To This button, let me also say I am fully aware that:

Scott Boras is his agent, ('nuff said), and
Some team will throw a big multi-year contract (5/70) at him THIS offseason ('nuff said redux)

so this is really a moot point.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 15, 2007 8:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I Sure Hope "Domer"...

... is pronounced with the long "O", as opposed to the short "O"...

;-)

by initram on Nov 15, 2007 9:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Guys, one team offered him 1/3M

That's not a typo either. The contract offers he is getting are crap compared to what he could make here. If $20 extra million dollars is not enough to get him to come to America, I'll be surprised. The biggest offer was something like 4/20

by IllinoisCubs on Nov 15, 2007 5:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Multiple Offers

I think teams in Japan are providing two offers simultaneously... a 1 year offer that will intice him to stay one year and consider weighing going to the States again this time next year, and another offer for a longer period of time.

by initram on Nov 15, 2007 5:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ken Rosenthal

can suck my balls

If dogs took over the world and chose a king, I hope they don't just go by size, because there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Nov 15, 2007 9:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Take this kind of language...

... and attitude elsewhere.

It's not appropriate here.

Thank you.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 15, 2007 10:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This guy has nothing left to prove

in Japan. If he has any competitive fire in him, he will be over here showing he can excel in the US.

I think this is pure posturing, and I don't blame him for pulling out all the stops. Actually, I am more worried about another team scooping him up, as opposed to him deciding to stay in Japan.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Nov 16, 2007 9:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree...does anyone have

a handle on whether the Japanese players in the MLB today (Ichiro, Dice K etc) recruit/encourage guys like Fukodome to come to the MLB? Not sure of the cultural aspects of this, but you would think once successful here, they would like more Japanese players in the game as a whole.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Nov 16, 2007 5:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs