Fukudome to Cubs

[rookies and cream]

Can't find a link...but I'm hearing buzz that he signed with the Cubs for 4 years at around 50 mil.

[rookies and cream]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/we ... _cubs.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=t ... &type=lgns

[Grounded Polo]

If true, that should be a good signing for them.

[rookies and cream]

Done deal

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3151060

[Old_Style]

This is a pretty good deal for the Cubs based on what Hunter and Jones are getting. He may not be the caliber player both of those guys are, but he also might not be that far behind.

[IllinoisBandit]

I'm not hearing buzz, I'm hearing bust. Completely uninformed Japanese import bashing from me. The money big market teams are willing to throw at unproven talent blows me away.

[RugbyD]

First season will be an adjustment year like it was for Hideki, but after that I think he'll be decent.

Looks like this paves the way for Murton to be on the move since Ward, DeRosa, Pagan, and Fuld are all legit backup options.

[Yoda]

Meh... I'm so over Japanese imports. They can be solid players and maybe even a star but they get too overhyped.

[Scooter1027]

Interesting signing. I think he'll be Matt Murton with better defense -- a .285ish hitter with 15-20 HR and good OBP. I think he'll end up being a solid player, but worth 12-14 million? I don't know, maybe, maybe not. Certainly a gamble. He should almost certainly be an upgrade over Jacque Jones though (hard not to be).

[davidmarver]

4 years at 12 million a pop for an unproven 30 year old coming off surgery? Pass.