Fukudome a Cub for Four Years

December 11, 2007 by cubsnet

Seeking the most expensive corner outfield combination in MLB history, a side benefit of adding a left-handed hitter who can sell ballcaps and jerseys in Japan, the Cubs appear to have succeeded. The Cubs will announce tomorrow that they have signed 30-year-old Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year contract, a number of media outlets are reporting.

Salary figures have not been released. Carrie Muskat says $48M. Paul Sullivan says $50-56M. ESPN says $48-56M. So it appears that Fukudome will make as much as or more than Derrek Lee ($13M per), despite coming off an elbow injury that required surgery and limited him to half a season last year. Combine that with Alfonso Soriano's $13M in 2008 (escalating to $18M per by 2010) and you have a very expensive outfield even if the third outfielder -- Felix Pie? Matt Murton? -- makes minimum wage.

Given the alternatives for starting outfielders, Fukudome appears to have been the best option available. For the second year in a row, Jim Hendry outbids everyone for that best option.

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