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MLB Baseball Betting: Fukudome Gets Name Past Censors, Might Play in U.S.
Kosuke Fukudome will decide whether to join a MLB team or return to Japan by this evening. (AP Images)
By midnight tonight, we should know the status of Kosuke Fukudome.
Fukudome, a .305 career hitter with 192 home runs for the Chunichi Dragons, has been pursued by a number of Major League Baseball clubs in recent weeks. Those looking to secure the Japanese outfielder include the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. He is expected to either join a MLB team or return to Japan by late this evening.
Although Fukudome is not expected to receive a deal close to Torii Hunter's five-year, $90 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the market for other prominent outfielders has begun to take shape recently. Andruw Jones agreed to a two-year, $36.2 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Jose Guillen signed a three-year, $36 million deal with Kansas City last week.
Fukudome hit .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 2006 to win the Most Valuable Player award in the Japanese Central League. He appeared in only 81 games in 2007 before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.