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CBSSports.com

The Cubs paid a premium to import Kosuke Fukudome (KOHS-kay FOO-koo-doh-may). The 30-year-old lefty-swinging outfielder is expected to enter spring training as the regular right fielder, although right-handed Matt Murton could get some starts against left-handed pitching. Fukudome was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBI, but missed time last year due to an elbow issue that reportedly shouldn’t keep him from producing in the States. The scouts consider him a cross between Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki, but none of his tools are as good as either of theirs. He will hit for a serviceable average and pop some homers, but don’t overpay for him on Draft Day like the Cubs did.
Source: CBSsports.com

Fantasy Scope

The Cubs desperately needed outfield help this offseason, and they have now landed the biggest Japanese free agent this offseason in Kosuke Fukudome. It took a four-year, $48M commitment to lure the right fielder to the windy city. The Cubs benefitted from some other things, too: apparently theirs wasn’t the most lucrative offer made, but Fukudome liked the idea of being the first Japanese player to ever play for the Cubbies. Most definitely not American.

For those who don’t know much about Fukudome, he’s a very slick outfielder who projects to have good gap power and get on base a ton. These are all things the Cubs could use. Think Akinori Iwamura with better power and more walks. His 2008 ZiPS projection looks like this (link at BBTF): .293/.382/.460 with 33 doubles, 13 HR and 67 RBI in 457 AB. Along with Alfonso Soriano and Matt Murton, that’s not a bad outfield (save Soriano’s defense).
Source: FantasyScope.wordpress.com

Yahoo.com

Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Chicago Cubs: Fresh off signing a four-year, $48 million deal in a bidding war between at least 12 Major League and NPB teams, the five-tool Fukudome has drawn favorable comparisons to Ichiro and should be a serviceable every day contributor to fantasy teams. The 2006 Central League MVP will likely be a reliable source of runs, on-base percentage and average, and reach double digits in steals. With help from Wrigley, 15 to 18 home runs isn’t out of the question for the former Chunichi superstar. He posted a .351/.438/.653 line with 31 HR and 104 RBI in his MVP season.

Fukudome certainly comes with some caveats, both for the Cubs and for fantasy owners. His 2007 season was cut short by surgery to remove bone fragments from his right elbow. There are also questions as to whether Fukudome’s power numbers will translate to the Majors, as Japanese hitters almost invariably experience a sharp decline in power in their initial seasons in MLB. For example, Akinori Iwamura averaged 35 home runs in 2004-06 in NPB, but managed only seven for the Devil Rays; newly signed Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui hit 36 for Seibu before his leap to the Majors.

Overall, fantasy owners can expect production from Fukudome similar to the second half of Bobby Abreu’s 2007 campaign (11 HR, 13 SB, .305/.390/.528). Target him in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts, and if he hits for any power he’ll be a steal on draft day. Bump his value significantly if your league counts on-base percentage.
Source: Yahoo.com