The Cubs would pay part of the $4.95MM remaining on Kosuke Fukudome's contract this year and quite a bit of his $13.5MM salary for 2011, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. In mid-June, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported that the Cubs approached the Red Sox about Fukudome but didn't get far due to an unwillingness to take on "an appreciable amount" of the outfielder's contract. If both reporters are correct, the Cubs have changed their stance.
Fukudome, 33, is hitting .253/.356/.410 in 273 plate appearances this season. April has been Fukudome's best month in each of his three big league seasons. He slumped badly thereafter this year and in '08, though he hit well in July and August last year. Fukudome is capable of playing right and center field.
On Facebook, I read this as “Cubs Willing To Eat Part of Fukudome.”
Would they be willing to if someone would eat part of his contract?
Saw that too. Maybe Carlos Zambrano would be willing to eat part of him.
Fukudome seems like a class player but has lost his place in Chicago. Cubs should do both he and them a favor and move him.
Red Sox should hop on.
Um no they shouldn’t ellsbury is back next week and all 3 of our normal starters are better than him
Red Sox very well could be in on Fukudome now that the salary wouldn’t be an issue. The two clubs did have discussions before, so it wouldn’t be totally shocking. Maybe the sox could try to swing a trade for Fukudome and Sean Marshall, kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
How about a trade for Oliver Perez?
I’ve seen that in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia– it won’t work.
Saying that Fukudome is capable of playing center field is a bit of an overstatement. He was terrible in CF last year (UZR Avg: -14.2). He’s money in right (UZR Avg: 9.2) – an excellent defensive outfielder. If he could just hit for a little more power, he’d be pretty valuable. As it stands now, though, I don’t know who would really want him, except maybe the Red Sox, Nationals, or maybe the Giants now that Velez has gone down with a concussion.
Fukudome hasn’t been bad for the cubs, but he is definitely overpaid. In Japan Fukudome had two 30+ HR seasons, and would regularly OPS in the .900-1.000 range. His power and batting average dropped considerably since joining the Cubs, but he still hits a lot of doubles, gets on base at a decent clip and plays excellent defense in right field.
Considering defense and speed as well, if the Giants were considering Guillen to play RF they should be more interested in Fukudome. I know the park sapps LH power bit it’s not like Fukudome is a huge power guy anyways and would fit nicely staying fresh in that OF rotation more than Guillen would in my opinion.
$13.5M in 2011–looks worse every time I see it.
If you are paying 10 Million or more, you might as well keep him.
He can play all 3 OF positions and gives you protection
a)While Brett Jackson plays in AAA next season
b)In the very likely event that Soriano/Byrd/Colvin miss some time in 2011
Yes the contract sucks, and it was ill advised from the beginning. However that doesn’t mean Fukudome is completely without use.
I heard talks before that they might test Colvin at 1B. Which I can see cause we have no one in the minors who can play 1B. Micah Hoffpauir had his chance. So I could see late 2011-beginning2012.C- Soto1B- Colvin2B- Theriot3B- RamirezSS- CastroLF- SorianoCF- JacksonRF- Byrd
Theriot is a utility player, not a starter, especially at 2B. The offensive numbers were less than ideal, but at least tolerable at SS when he was at least batting >.310 and taking walks. But at 2B, with 0 HRs, and a <.320 OBP, he is no longer a viable starter.
Though Fukudome has done a mediocre job, he’s tried hard, done everything the Cubs have asked from him and hasn’t griped about a lack of playing time. He’s a good ball player, but he just didn’t pan out like we had hoped. The Cubs need to get rid of him and hopefully Nady too to clear roster spots for a few more kids to play, no matter the cost. He’s not that valuable to the Cubs and pretty much just takes up space, but to the right club he could fill an important role.
Cubs bottom of the bullpen looks solid for the future also.
7th inning guy Jeff Samardzija (if he can put up # like is in the minors right now)
SU- Andrew Cashner
SU- Sean Marshall
CL- Carlos Marmol
I say sign Scott Downs to be your 7th inning guy. Oh yea and there’s this guy named Cliff Lee…
Except for the fact that Cashner is going to be a starter… The Cubs, outside of Marshall and Marmol, still need some better bullpen arms.
I really hope Cashner is given more time to develop as a starter. He was great earlier this year and is far more useful in that role if he can continue to succeed. The Cubs should really find a way to get him into the rotation for the remainder of the year. A trade of Ted Lilly would be the perfect opportunity. I say this because his stint in the bullpen has kept his innings down, so unless he starts to pile up innings this year, he will not even be possible to have him start all next year if the Cubs do decide to move him back to the rotation.Ultimately, in my opinion, moving him to the bullpen this year was a short-sighted move aimed at trying to save what was already a sinking ship. Others will no doubt disagree as he has received some MLB innings in the process, but I think it has hurt his overall development, and could more if they have to limit his innings next year.
Cashner is a future starter….
I have said this before and I will say it again. The Cubs should blow up the team and take on massive amounts of salary so they can have young more athletic productive players instead of the Pinella All Stars. Trade Soriano+Fukodome+three quarters of both salaries to the Red Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox have enough highly touted outfield prospects that I keep hearing these Boston Yahoos always spouting about. That gives them defense and protection if Drew goes down and a RH hitting slugger for Fenway Park. Trade Derek Lee+John Grabow+Koyie Hill to the Rangers for Chris Davis+Tanner Scheppers+David Murphy with cash considerations in there as well. Trade Aramis Ramirez to the Tigers for Jeff Larish+Daniel Schlereth. Trade Ryan Theriot to the Padres for Cedric Hunter. Trade Xavier Nady+Sean Marshall+Marlon Byrd to the Yankees for Joba Chamberlain.
2011
C Geovanny Soto
1B Chris Davis
2B Mike Fontenot
3B Jeff Baker
SS Starlin Castro
LF Jacoby Ellsbury
CF Cedric Hunter/David Murphy
RF Tyler Colvin
#1 SP Ryan Theriot Set Up Jeff Samardjiza
#2 SP Carlos Silva Set UP Joba Chamberlain
#3 SP Carlos Zambrano Closer Carlos Marmol
#4 SP Randy Wells
#5 SP Andrew Cashner
This guy really knows how to hold his liquor.
I’m not comfortable moving forward with Ryan Theriot as our rotation ace.
I want some of what you are smoking.
Maybe we can add pujols for zambrano and Justin berg and longoria for sam fuld
Then we got something
“I have said this before and I will say it again. The Cubs should blow up the team and take on massive amounts of salary so they can have young more athletic productive players instead of the Pinella All Stars. Trade Soriano+Fukodome+three quarters of both salaries to the Red Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox have enough highly touted outfield prospects that I keep hearing these Boston Yahoos always spouting about. That gives them defense and protection if Drew goes down and a RH hitting slugger for Fenway Park. Trade Derek Lee+John Grabow+Koyie Hill to the Rangers for Chris Davis+Tanner Scheppers+David Murphy with cash considerations in there as well. Trade Aramis Ramirez to the Tigers for Jeff Larish+Daniel Schlereth. Trade Ryan Theriot to the Padres for Cedric Hunter. Trade Xavier Nady+Sean Marshall+Marlon Byrd to the Yankees for Joba Chamberlain.
2011
C Geovanny Soto
1B Chris Davis
2B Mike Fontenot
3B Jeff Baker
SS Starlin Castro
LF Jacoby Ellsbury
CF Cedric Hunter/David Murphy
RF Tyler Colvin
#1 SP Ryan Theriot Set Up Jeff Samardjiza
#2 SP Carlos Silva Set UP Joba Chamberlain
#3 SP Carlos Zambrano Closer Carlos Marmol
#4 SP Randy Wells
#5 SP Andrew Cashner ”
Since I do not have the time or patience to dispute all of this ridiculousness, let me sum it up for you: You’re an idiot.