Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007

CHICAGO (AP) Free-agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and the Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $48 million, four-year contract.

Kosuke Fukudome, seen swinging the bat for the Chunichi Dragons, is set to sign a $ 48 million, four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to media reports. KYODO PHOTO

The deal is subject to a physical, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The agreement could be finalized as early as Wednesday.

The Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, reported the contract could be between $48 million and $50 million.

Fukudome was considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball. The 30-year-old slugger was a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006.

He had surgery on his right elbow in August and sat out the Japan Series, but has 192 homers and a .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who won their first championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.

After becoming a free agent, Fukudome drew interest from the Cubs, San Diego Padres and White Sox.

He is expected to play right field for the Cubs, who traded outfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit this offseason and declined their contract option on veteran Cliff Floyd.

All-Star slugger Alfonso Soriano returns in left and speedy prospect Felix Pie is expected to take over in center after shuttling between the majors and minors this season. The Cubs hope Fukudome will provide the consistent left-handed bat they seek to go along with righties Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.

SAN DIEGO (AP) Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres took a physical on Tuesday and the sides anticipated announcing a $52 million, three-year contract extension Wednesday.

Also Tuesday, the Padres agreed to terms with free-agent second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, pending a physical.

Iguchi hit .304 in Philadelphia after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline.

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