November 13, 2008 The Chicago Cubs are moving Kosuke Fukudome from right field to center field, and he will be a platoon player with Reed Johnson to start next season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View:Fukudome was a bust last year, and will be an expensive part-time player, as he signed a $44 million deal last winter.
November 6, 2008 Kosuke Fukudome may not emerge from the off-season as a starter as the Cubs have let it be known that they are looking for a power upgrade at the outfield position, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View:Fukudome hit .296 through the end of June which made his lack of power bearable, but when he hit .207 from July on, the team realized it might have a problem. Unfortunately, Fukudome is owed $38 million the next three years, an awfully high price tag for a bench player, and probably a prohibitive total in terms of being able to move him in a trade.
October 7, 2008 Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome will have some form of competition for the starting job in right field next spring, according to the Chicago Tribune. He claims that he is confident despite his struggles the second half of the year, and as for fans booing him, he didn't seem to mind, proclaiming, "it was good that fans are very honest and straight."
Our View:Fukudome was flat awful the second half of the season, and he still has three years and $36 million remaining on his contract. Chicago is expected to try and acquire someone in free agency to challenge their expensive import.
October 4, 2008 Kosuke Fukudome is not in the lineup Saturday as manager Lou Pinella promised, according to the Arlington Daily Herald. The outfielder is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the two games versus LA. "Let's not worry about Fukudome right now," Piniella said. "Let's worry about the team, and let's worry about what's best for the team. I think too much is being made of the point whether this guy's playing or that guy isn't playing. This is a team. And I'm going to play Fontenot (tonight). He's been swinging the bat well."
Our View:We'd be surprised if Fukudome makes another start in the playoffs even if the Cubs rally to beat the Dodgers.
October 3, 2008 Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome has been so bad, even the PA announcer at O'Hare Airport is having fun at his expense, according to the Chicago Tribune. Over the loudspeaker, this is what the announcer blared out: "Paging Kosuke Fukudome, paging Kosuke Fukudome ... Please report to the Cincinnati Reds. You have been traded for a player to be named later."
Our View:You know it's rough when you're the public butt of jokes in large airports. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has basically given up on him after the Japanese import when 0-8 with four strikeouts, saying he was out of the lineup.
