Fukudome's in, Prior's out
The Cubs were celebrating their newest sensation Wednesday while preparing for life without their old sensation.
General manager Jim Hendry and agent Joe Urbon shared a conference call to extol the virtues of Kosuke Fukudome, who agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cubs late Tuesday. That deal will be finalized after Fukudome takes a physical exam next week in Chicago.
Later in the day, the Cubs did as expected by declining to offer erstwhile ace pitcher Mark Prior a contract for the 2008 season. The Cubs could conceivably bring Prior back as a free agent, but that's highly unlikely, and it looks as a once-promising Cubs story is over, and Prior will try to hook on elsewhere.
First things first.
Hendry was still riding high from the previous night, when Fukudome and Urbon let him know the left-handed hitting right fielder had chosen the Cubs over the San Diego Padres and the White Sox, the latter of whom were believed to be in the same financial neighborhood as the Cubs.
"We're thrilled to have Kosuke," Hendry said. "He's exactly what we needed for our ballclub moving forward. He's been our target acquisition from Day 1. We made Joe Urbon well aware that, if we were fortunate enough to have him choose to leave Japan, that would be our guy. We were not going to waver on that.
"We would not ever offer or a dollar or a trade to any other person until we were going to pursue the conclusion of Kosuke's decision. We couldn't be happier. It really just changes the dynamic of our club in a lot of ways."
Fukudome, who played his entire nine-year career in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons, batted .305 with an on-base percentage of .397 and a slugging percentage of .543. He also has a strong throwing arm and good speed.
Last season, surgery to remove bone fragments from his right (throwing) elbow limited Fukudome to 81 games, but he hit .294 with a .443 OBP and 13 homers. Hendry expressed confidence the elbow is fine.
"We're very comfortable," Hendry said. "Lew Yocum is a world-renown surgeon and also the mentor of Dr. (Stephen) Gryzlo (the Cubs team doctor) in the early stages of his career. Dr. Gryzlo has spoken to Lew. The surgery went very well. There's not doubt in his mind that he will be ready for the first day of spring training."
Fukudome hit 31 homers in 2006, his last full season. Hendry did not seem concerned about Fukudome's offensive numbers not translating well from Japan to the major leagues, even though power numbers have been known to dip when players come from overseas.
"We think we have the whole package," Hendry said. "We feel we have a high-average player, obviously a high-on-base percentage player. He certainly has enough power and certainly can hit the ball out of the ballpark. He's a Gold Glove caliber defender with a tremendous arm from right field, and he can steal bases.
"It's all the things that we felt or heard about on a regular basis that we might have lacked, some on-base percentage, more speed, better defense in the outfield. He fits the bill for all of it. I don't worry about the transition."
Urbon said along with economics, the "position, city, ability to win" and "being the first Japanese player on a club" factored into Fukudome's decision. He also spoke up for the White Sox, who have lost out on Fukudome, Miguel Cabrera, Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand.
"Economics, at the end of the day, did not necessarily play a role in this," Urbon said. "I think it's unfair to characterize the other Chicago team as not putting their best foot forward. They did, as did the San Diego Padres, as did a few other clubs."
As for Prior, the Cubs had hoped to work out a one-year contract plus a club option. Prior made $3.75 million this year as he missed the entire season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in April. If the Cubs had tendered Prior a contract, they could cut his salary a maximum of 20 percent. Hendry had hoped Prior would agree to a lesser deal for 2008 plus an incentive-laden deal for '09, but no deal was forthcoming, and the Cubs let Prior walk.
Prior worked on only 9 games in 2006, when the shoulder began bothering him. For his career, Prior is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA. The Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2001, he'll be remembered for going 18-6 in 2003 and helping the Cubs win the National League Central. Elbow and Achilles'-tendon problems began hampering Prior in 2004, and he never regained his 2003 form.
The Cubs were unable to trade Prior this off-season as they fielded little interest. Prior now is free to sign with any team.