'Dome Arigato

Well, the Cubs did it again. For the second off-season in a row, the name at the top of their wish list was locked in.

Signing a four-year deal for around $50 million, Kosuke Fukudome fills a couple of needs, as a left-handed hitter with some pop and a high on-base percentage and, as a converted infielder, a strong corner-outfield arm.

The Cubs outbid the White Sox, Padres and Rangers to bring their first Japanese position player to the team (Hideo Nomo was briefly a Cub, dropped after a brief spring training stint several years ago). Apart from what he can bring to the ballclub on the field, it’s a smart move in terms of expanding the Cubs’ fan base in Japan and opening up new marketing opportunities.

Considering that it doesn’t take top-level talent to command an eight-figure salary in the majors these days, bringing in one of Japan’s best hitters for around $12m a year seems like almost a bargain.

His 2007 numbers are incomplete due to surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, but as the 2006 Central League MVP he put up a .351-31-104 year with 47 doubles and a .438 OBP in a season 20 games shorter than MLB’s. His .305 career average is held back by a pair of .250 seasons in his first three years, and at age 30 he’s in the prime of his career. If his elbow’s 100 percent (and we’re not talking about muscle or ligament problems, just a little housekeeping), I could easily see him in the neighborhood of .315-25-90 with 100+ runs scored and leading the Cubs in walks next year with better things to come after his first few trips around the league.

We’ll have to wait and see where he winds up in the lineup next season, but it’s definitely a big step up from the production the Cubs got out of the right field position in 2007.

I tried coming up with a suggested Opening Day lineup, but it’s just too hard to tell so far. I doubt Jim Hendry doesn’t have a few more tricks up his sleeve, but even if he stands pat, things are looking very good.