Fukudome to the Cubs

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 11, 2007 10:14 PM CST in News

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Kosuke Fukudome has agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs, believed to be around $12 million per year.

Bah.

That sucks.

I'm very disappointed.

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Comments

Why?

You thought he would come here when Aki told him to go elsewhere? Even if he was asking Aki to choose between SD and Chicago, that meant he didn't want to come to Texas. So we really had no shot either way.

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 PM CST reply actions

Sigh

Sure, buddy.

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize that not even God can play 1-on-1 against Himself.

by thedirkatron on Dec 11, 2007 10:13 PM CST up reply actions

Dirk

Did you really think this morning that Fuku could sign with us?

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 10:13 PM CST up reply actions

No

But only because I didn't think we'd be the high bidder, not because of some stupid shit Aki might have said.

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize that not even God can play 1-on-1 against Himself.

by thedirkatron on Dec 11, 2007 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

Might have been

The high bidder and still not won the deal. If his choice was a historically significant franchise, the San Diego recommendation from Aki might mean he'll live there, as Aki does, but play for the Cubs. It really seems to have been about a good place to live and Aki does live there.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Dec 12, 2007 3:17 AM CST up reply actions

Ed

has ESP!

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 12, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

don't be an idiot

you have no effing idea what happened.

by Longhorn on Dec 11, 2007 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

Also

you just negate you're whole stupid argument. Aki told him to go to SD but he signs with the Cubs. Seems to me that Kofu has a mind of his own...who woulda thunk it?

by Longhorn on Dec 11, 2007 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

No actually I didn't

by asking Aki for advice between SD or Chicago, he clearly didn't have any intention of coming to Texas.

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

ok...

now we can move on.

by HaegerChamp on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 PM CST reply actions

to Murton!

wish the Dodgers had gotten fukudome and it could be ethier.

by DShep on Dec 11, 2007 10:04 PM CST up reply actions

Barry Bonds? hehe.

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

ha

actually.. you have me interested

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Dec 11, 2007 10:23 PM CST up reply actions

We should be.....

interested. He'd hit 75-80 HR's here.

by tklawless on Dec 11, 2007 10:46 PM CST up reply actions

only if

BALCO rises from the flames

by knockoutking24 on Dec 11, 2007 10:49 PM CST up reply actions

why?

one more excuse not to go into rebuilding if we resign him

by knockoutking24 on Dec 11, 2007 10:05 PM CST reply actions

He was the only oppurtunity left

To significantly improve without giving up much needed prospects.

If I find out the rangers offered a similar ammount, or more, and fukudome didnt want to play here... well thats the perils of being a ranger fan.

But I better not find out we offered like 3/30 and never moved up after it became known it would take more.

No prospects, no draft picks, just money for a good player. Should have happened.

by DShep on Dec 11, 2007 10:09 PM CST reply actions

Jonny boy not doing a very good..

job of reeling them in this year. Bradley is a nice band-aid eventhough he may not be able to play the field until August. I'm starting to feel like the red headed step child who has bad acne and weighs 500 lbs. at the prom

"Santa all I want is a new owner for the Rangers. Pee Wee and Wash can stay." - Me

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 10:15 PM CST reply actions

Bradley

was a horrible signing. An injured nut case. Great job JD!!!

Red Sux Nation is an evil organization.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Dec 12, 2007 2:48 AM CST up reply actions

Monopoly board

Is a good hitter.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Dec 12, 2007 3:15 AM CST up reply actions

I'm very disappointed too

However, I think we still can get Aaron Rowand.

Hicks and JD should now go all out sign Rowand.

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Dec 11, 2007 10:20 PM CST reply actions

so we missed out...

in a year when we know we won't compete. No real harm. Hicks can and should spend next year when more (power) bats are available. If I'm not mistaken, Abreu, Dunn, and Manny (option?) are all FAs after 09. Or we could try to money-whip Teixeira.

by HaegerChamp on Dec 11, 2007 10:21 PM CST reply actions

Teixera....

is not coming back to Texas this is the last place on earth he wants to play. He couldn't wait to get the fuk out of here.

"Santa all I want is a new owner for the Rangers. Pee Wee and Wash can stay." - Me

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 10:50 PM CST up reply actions

fuk u Cubs

You still won't make the playoffs

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Dec 11, 2007 10:21 PM CST reply actions

Rosenthal

Seems like he consistently gets the scoop.

Some professionals get better with age and experience. Lawyers, professors, engineers. Hookers? Not so much. -- DJ Cahill

by tricer on Dec 11, 2007 10:22 PM CST reply actions

Yeah

i thought JD would get him.

by Longhorn on Dec 11, 2007 10:28 PM CST reply actions

Cubs

Their rotation does not scare me. Does anyone think Hill, Marquis and Lilly will repeat last year's performance?

by mattrpav on Dec 11, 2007 10:30 PM CST reply actions

Rich Hill

I think he will be better next year.

Some professionals get better with age and experience. Lawyers, professors, engineers. Hookers? Not so much. -- DJ Cahill

by tricer on Dec 11, 2007 10:33 PM CST up reply actions

+1

eom

by knockoutking24 on Dec 11, 2007 10:37 PM CST up reply actions

Hill yes...

Lilly hell no, Marquis...not sure.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 12, 2007 12:20 AM CST up reply actions

OH WHAT A SURPRISE

STUPID DO NOTHING RANGERS DO NOTHING.

http://www.lonestarball.com/comments/2007/12/11/1194/8484/11#11

A few global warming hypocrites

by Sharky on Dec 11, 2007 10:31 PM CST reply actions

LIKE 2 DAYS AGO THE RANGERS SIGNED MILTON BRADLEY

go 2 skool

by a bebop a rebop on Dec 11, 2007 10:50 PM CST up reply actions

Oh boy oh boy!

A broken down has been on a one year 5 million dollar deal that is totally pointless because we wont win this year anyway! Stop the presses!

Why the hell did we even bother with that Bradley deal, I dunno. He literally will be with the team MAYBE three months. June is the latest trade date for him I can imagine..

So we'll get some worthless crap back for him..who cares. Why bother. I think the Rangers probably incur more costs in trade related paperwork than anything else they do.

A few global warming hypocrites

by Sharky on Dec 11, 2007 11:08 PM CST up reply actions

HEY LET'S DFA THE WHOLE TEAM

THEY'RE ALL POINTLESS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WINNING THIS YEAR ANYWAY

by a bebop a rebop on Dec 11, 2007 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

BUT COME BACK IN 2010 GUYS YOU'LL LOVE IT

by a bebop a rebop on Dec 11, 2007 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

Sharky

and you just know tomorrow or in two days it will be released that the Rangers made a competitive bid and the market was just too crazy so the Rangers got out. AJM will say it was probably too much to pay for this guy and it was smart of the Rangers to get out.

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 10:54 PM CST up reply actions

well I'm absolutely thrilled...

that Bid Daddy is saving sooooo much money by passing on all the studs. Words cannot describe how giddy with joy I am. So how exactly do we stand a chance with next years free agent market with this years one after another telling pee wee and big daddy- take this offer and shove it !!

"Santa all I want is a new owner for the Rangers. Pee Wee and Wash can stay." - Me

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:01 PM CST up reply actions

Might as well resign Sosa

before the Royals do.

Red Sux Nation is an evil organization.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Dec 12, 2007 2:51 AM CST up reply actions

NOOOOOOOOO!

we lost another great Japanese player. Tadahito Iguchi signed with the Padres!

by HaegerChamp on Dec 11, 2007 10:31 PM CST reply actions

Aki to Cubs ???

They could use a closer and it seems like they are all in for next year. Maybe they would be interested in acquiring Fuku's buddy?

Some professionals get better with age and experience. Lawyers, professors, engineers. Hookers? Not so much. -- DJ Cahill

by tricer on Dec 11, 2007 10:34 PM CST reply actions

heh

in a perfect world: aki/laird for pie hehe

...i wish

by knockoutking24 on Dec 11, 2007 10:39 PM CST up reply actions

Who cares...

We have Milton Bradley...

MILTON BRADLEY

Looking forward to the Milton Bradely show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 10:47 PM CST reply actions

Rowand..

Whats going on with him? Any chance the market for him is not what was thought and we can sneak in and grab him for 4/44 ish?

by Topgun22 on Dec 11, 2007 10:49 PM CST reply actions

Nope...

He will get alot more than that..

and he sure in hell aint worth it.

Looking forward to the Milton Bradely show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

I imagine the teams that missed out on fukudome

will now be after him.

the padres NEED an outfielder and are contending now.

rowand would be nice. hot/cold years are discouraging though.

by DShep on Dec 11, 2007 10:53 PM CST up reply actions

He

wasn't good before 2 seasons ago, he is injury prone.

Why would you lock up a guy like that?

I would rather have Andruw Jones for more money...

Looking forward to the Milton Bradley show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 10:56 PM CST up reply actions

2004

.310 / .361 / .544

Full Seasons 2005&7, close 2004
Missed 50 games 2006 because he ran into the wall

Kinda like a Fred Taylor stigma of "injury prone"

Aaron Rowand would step in and be the best Ranger OF (including the great Milton Bradley) in a very long time. We could do a LOT worse than signing this guy for the next 4 years.

We have NO outfield (long term).
We have NO immediate help in the outfield from the minors.
We are going to have to trade a top prospect to get a good young OF.

Why not sign Rowand when he doesn't cost you a prospect?

by trident on Dec 12, 2007 12:21 AM CST up reply actions

Fukudome

I'm surprised he got that much of a rise out of you, Adam.

Nice player, but has some question marks.

But mostly, I just can't believe this guy would jibe with the schedule the team's on.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 11, 2007 10:59 PM CST reply actions

In other news...

The return of Franklyn:

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071211&content_id=2323214&vkey=news_tex& amp;fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

And Ken Daley's reporting it. So there's that, too.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 11, 2007 11:01 PM CST reply actions

Hmm..

"Flores, 21, is a sizable right-hander (6-foot-7, 225 pounds) from Puerto Rico who spent three years in the Marlins' organization. His only professional action came in 2005, when he was 2-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 13 games for the Class A Gulf Coast Marlins before suffering injury problems."

Sounds good to me..

Looking forward to the Milton Bradley show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 11:03 PM CST up reply actions

FA's

I see they also signed Eric Cyr. He should immediately be a favorite of Sharky's, since they both like their girls underage. :)

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Dec 11, 2007 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

Haha,

Oh Sharky...

Looking forward to the Milton Bradley show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

Question

I understand that we're building for the future and that it takes patience. I'm on board with all of this.

But do we have any significant OF prospects that project to the majors in the next 3 years? Mayberry is the only one I can think of, and he hasn't generated the attention of a Milledge/Pie/Ellsbury/A.Jones.

So, if we don't have any major OF prospects coming up soon, then why not spend some money to get a decent OF now? I mean, you can't send out young guys at every position, can you? Don't you need some veterans to teach the young guys/bear the burden so the young guys can develop without having to hit in the 4 spot?

by GhettoBear04 on Dec 11, 2007 11:01 PM CST reply actions

JMJ

at least if we suck we can find out if hes a player

or if we move davis to the OF. obv his bat will play whereever

by knockoutking24 on Dec 11, 2007 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

OF prospects

There aren't any north of Engel Beltre. JMJ's it, and you've heard about him.

I feel dispassionate about most of the OF options available this winter because they're older and costly. Even if the team has money, they don't chronologically suit the program this org's on.

If Bradley can shore up the outfield for now, and buy some time for a player to emerge or for JD to make a trade, that's the best option.

I don't think the loss of Fukudome's a big deal.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 11, 2007 11:19 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

There's Boggs and Borbon, both farther along than Beltre.

I wouldn't be surprised if Davis ends up in RF, either.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 11, 2007 11:27 PM CST up reply actions

Whittleman, too

His chances of sticking at third aren't looking real good.

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize that not even God can play 1-on-1 against Himself.

by thedirkatron on Dec 12, 2007 12:11 AM CST up reply actions

Whittleman

His defense is so bad he gets errors at DH.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 12, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

4/48

per Cubs website.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071211&content_id=2323241&vkey=news_chc&a mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Fire Todd Dodge.

by sprite on Dec 11, 2007 11:07 PM CST reply actions

Clearly

out of the Texas Rangers' price range, since we're a small market team...right?

Your Texas Rangers...2007-Playing for the Future, 2010-Playing for the Future, 2013-Playing for the Future, 2017-Playing for the Future

by Agreen07 on Dec 11, 2007 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

Cat/Cruz/Murphy/Bradley/Fukudome/Byrd/Mench/Nix

Had a nice ring to it.

by cmkelly29 on Dec 11, 2007 11:18 PM CST reply actions

They should...

...start a law firm.

by GhettoBear04 on Dec 11, 2007 11:21 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

But Fukudome wouldn't be a partner. That's their office address.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Dec 11, 2007 11:23 PM CST up reply actions

That's the funniest thing I've read/heard all day

Thanks for the giggle in the midst of this BS.

by Spoorts!! on Dec 12, 2007 12:02 AM CST up reply actions

oh well time to start bottom feeding..

or make aaron rowand sign a contract at gun point.

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:27 PM CST reply actions

Why?

Sounds to me like you just want a "big name" centerfeilder to just have one..

He is not worth the money...

Looking forward to the Milton Bradley show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 11:33 PM CST up reply actions

"It's not the high cost...

of talent that is destroying the game, but the high cost of mediocrity" - Bill Veeck

Aaron Rowand is not a superstar.

by HaegerChamp on Dec 11, 2007 11:40 PM CST up reply actions

well if we're going to hold out for a superstar..

we better push the playoff goal back to 2015.
First of all there aren't many "superstars" to choose from and they all want to play elsewhere.

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:42 PM CST up reply actions

So you want

to pay 10 plus mill a year to a guy taht isn't even that good, and is an aging injury waiting to happen?

He has taken alot of beating in his career with his "all out play". He is a average offensive player, and worse sometimes.

The last thing we need on this team in a inconsistent average center fielder that would be our second highest paid player on the team.

Looking forward to the Milton Bradley show this season...

by miles on Dec 11, 2007 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

Rowand...

hit .309 last year with 27 home runs if thats an average player to you then I'd like about 9 of them for my lineup thank you ! He also won a gold glove last year..and played 161 games so much for the injury prone part. Theres nothing average about him 10 mill you bet !

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:52 PM CST up reply actions

those numbers are not average

for Rowand, that's the point. He had a career year and will regress next year just like GMJ. He's not worth the money he's going to get.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 11, 2007 11:54 PM CST up reply actions

oh ok miss cleo...

master psychic if you say so...

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:57 PM CST up reply actions

rowands a lot better than GMJ

he had a .905 ops in 2004.

hes done it before.

of course, someone who has been particularly good in 2 of the past 6 years isnt someone I particularly want the rangers to give 13 million a year too, but I dont think hes going to be a disaster contract.

by DShep on Dec 12, 2007 12:30 AM CST up reply actions

i don't know...

Santana
Sabathia
Sheets

don't sound like like chumps. Save this year... offer crazy money next year.

by HaegerChamp on Dec 11, 2007 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

Neither

Sabathia nor Santana will make it to FA. Good teams like the Indians don't let CYs get to free agency and Santana will sign with the BoSox or Yankees after the gets traded in the next couple of weeks.

Sheets = Ben McDonald. Hasn't pitched 200 innings since 2004, may never again.

by Spoorts!! on Dec 12, 2007 12:09 AM CST up reply actions

NO

I want a centerfielder who can get the job done defensively AND offensively and Rowand is the guy.
We don't have a proven defensive center fielder not even close. You know what sometimes you have to spend a little money like the angels, red sox, yankees and a host of other successful teams.

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 11, 2007 11:40 PM CST reply actions

no

i doubt lsb will sign off on rowand..too good.

he wont come here either, even if we did want him.

jd sits on his hands, attendance, tv ratings falls even further at this disgraceful irrelevanr franchise.

team to soon be contracted or moved to pittsburgh as the new pirates...or perhaps made a minor league team.

A few global warming hypocrites

by Sharky on Dec 12, 2007 12:08 AM CST up reply actions

Ha Ha so true most of it...

well do you think we could win as a minor league team ?

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 12, 2007 12:12 AM CST up reply actions

You should know there is a flaw in your judgement

When Sharky agrees with you.

by hiafex on Dec 12, 2007 12:22 AM CST up reply actions

Rowand?

I'm a little bummed about Fukudome but I think with only a little decline he turns into an average corner outfielder, and I don't know if that's worth 12 million in three years.

I'm a longtime Cameron fan, but I'm not sure if he can still man CF at a league average level. His offense is well above average for CF though.

Rowand? As a CF his career .343 OBP is pretty good. The 106 career OPS+ is great for a CF considering an average CF is in the 80-90 range. The problem is that from year to year he varies drastically. There's a big difference between an 81 OPS+ and a 130 OPS+ and Rowand has had both in the last few years. Defensively he is league average. He's been above and below average over the last few years. When you combine age, the streaky offense and only average defense I would be concerned in going more than four years and I don't even know about that.

I guess Murphy in CF for a rebuilding year isn't that bad considering they aren't trying to win as much as develop. Unfortunately there are no standout CFers in next year's free agent crop either, and I don't want to wait on the possibility that Bourbon ever develops. I don't know...I'm pretty torn on the offseason so far.

by rangeressary on Dec 12, 2007 12:29 AM CST reply actions

Well I am disappointed as well...

but I think we all saw this coming whether it was the Cubs or the Pads.

Now we can move on. I really think the answer now for another OFer is through trade. I would like to see JD pound the phones about Pie/Murton, Ethier/Kemp, Bay, maybe Kearns or Hamilton. I like the addition of Bradley, but I still don't want to see this OF the way it is now come April.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 12, 2007 12:32 AM CST reply actions

4/48

hmm, not very much. Should require an explanation.

by ab03 on Dec 12, 2007 12:47 AM CST reply actions

That

three teams were bidding on him, and one of those teams were the Rangers...

Scot Baio is 45 a single

by miles on Dec 12, 2007 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

It isn't just the money

playing for the Cubs puts you on national tv a LOT - much more than playing for Texas or San Diego.
For all we know, WGN is already broadcasting cubs games to Japan every night anyway.
all that spotlight will get you endorsements that would have been far less likely in Texas.
Ichiro has never won a WS. He doesn't look like he'll get a chance to soon. The Cubs probably won't either, but people always say that they are one year away (no one says that about Texas). If Fukudome can do something Ichiro couldn't, don't you think he'd go for it?

I think it is a positive that Texas was in it as long as they were. Texas is going to lose players to the Cubs and Red Sox and Dodgers of the world. If he had signed with KC or even SD, there would be something to worry about.

by JBImaknee on Dec 12, 2007 10:38 AM CST up reply actions