Kosume Fukudome is a 30 year-old outfielder currently playing for the Chunichi Dragons. Mike Plugh praises his doubles power and has described him as an on-base machine with a rifle arm on defense. He may compare to Hideki Matsui in some ways. Should Fukudome come over to the Majors after this season, it won’t involve the posting process. He’ll be a free agent.
According to injury guru and occasional rumormonger Will Carroll (subscription required), the Red Sox already have their eye on Fukudome. Carroll doesn’t expect the Sox to acquire a long-term outfielder like Rocco Baldelli this summer because of their interest in Fukudome.
I will have to find out if Fukudome could play a credible center field or return to third base. Otherwise, such a signing would only seem to make sense for Boston if they moved Manny Ramirez. They don’t seem likely to try J.D. Drew as the regular CF.
