Report: Fukudome set to make decision

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had no comment Friday night on a report that Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome will announce this weekend that he is coming to the major leagues.

"The Cubs have not been informed that Fukudome has declared he is coming to the United States," a Cubs spokesman said.

Multiple sources indicated Friday night that Fukudome wouldn't make his decision until Monday on whether to leave Japan or come to North America.

A report on foxsports.com Friday afternoon said Fukudome's decision to join "the Cubs, Padres or an unidentified third finalist might come as soon as late Friday night or early Saturday." The report cited an unidentified source.

The 30-year-old Fukudome has been the Cubs' No. 1 free-agent target all off-season, and they waited nervously during this week's winter meetings in Nashville to see if he would make a decision.

In addition to the Cubs and Padres, the White Sox and Giants have been mentioned as possible suitors for Fukudome, who played for the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan major leagues and helped Japan win the World Baseball Classic in the spring of 2006.

Fukudome played in 81 games this year, as his season was cut short by surgery to remove fragments in his right elbow. He batted .294 with 13 home runs. More impressive, he had a .443 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage.

For his career, Fukudome has an OBP of .397. He turned in OBP figures of .438 in 2006, when he hit 31 homers, and .430 in 2005.

The Cubs have been roundly criticized in recent year for ignoring the importance of on-base percentage, but their pursuit of Fukudome and Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts might be a signal that they're seriously considering players who have excelled in that area.

There appeared to be little progress Friday in trade talks with the Orioles, as teams settled in back home after the winter meetings.

Last off-season, the Cubs shocked the baseball world by signing outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million contract. So it wouldn't be out of the question for the Cubs to try and blow their competitors out of the water by offering Fukudome anywhere from $12 million to $15 million for up to five years.

The White Sox were thought to be only a minor player in the Fukudome derby, but they've been shut out in major acquisitions this winter and have watched as the Detroit Tigers loaded up by getting third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis this week in a blockbuster trade with the Florida Marlins.