Levine: Fukudome a Cub (was Kosuke coming to U.S.)

[Tracer Bullet]

Does the increased expected revenue from having a marquee Japanese player offset some of that cost? I have to think so, but anyone have any idea by how much?

[C.C.]

i have a good feeling about this guy...

 

i don't care what the deal is...get it done...if there were rumors of either fukudome or a starter...then i might be worried, but apparently everyone is content with our rotation...so...if that is the case...sign him...sign him...sign him

 

Neh. You always have to look at the dollars and what makes sense. Get the guy here, but don't hamstring us even further. We're already carrying some contracts that hurt, or are likely to start hurting.

 

yeah, but our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

Agreed. With the NL being weak for yet another year, might as well go for broke.

[BCVM22]

Does the increased expected revenue from having a marquee Japanese player offset some of that cost? I have to think so, but anyone have any idea by how much?

 

That would be entirely dependent upon the Cubs, I'd think, since they would be the ones to try and work out a broadcast deal for certain games in Japan and/or get Japanese advertisers to buy adspace at Wrigley.

[JeffH]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

[minnesotacubsfan]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

 

I dont think I buy that, but I do think they should be far more successful then they have been

[C.C.]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

 

I dont think I buy that, but I do think they should be far more successful then they have been

 

 

I don't think there is any doubt that they should be far more successful then they have been. It's really embarrassing they don't win the Central every damn year.

[jersey cubs fan]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

 

I dont think I buy that, but I do think they should be far more successful then they have been

 

The Cubs hold a clear and substantial financial advantage over everybody in their division. Likewise, there are no Yankees or Red Sox like teams in the NL. The Cubs are usually in the top 2-4 of NL payrolls, and get to play against the weakest competition, year-in and year-out. An 85 win season should be the lower end of the expected range. They should easily be able to rip off 3-5 year runs of 90+ wins, or, at the very least, average 90 wins over that time frame.

[minnesotacubsfan]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

 

I dont think I buy that, but I do think they should be far more successful then they have been

 

The Cubs hold a clear and substantial financial advantage over everybody in their division. Likewise, there are no Yankees or Red Sox like teams in the NL. The Cubs are usually in the top 2-4 of NL payrolls, and get to play against the weakest competition, year-in and year-out. An 85 win season should be the lower end of the expected range. They should easily be able to rip off 3-5 year runs of 90+ wins, or, at the very least, average 90 wins over that time frame.

 

I agree, I guess I mis-read the idea of "virtuallly every season" as being that las 5 yrs straight and the next 5 yrs straight. that would be a hell of a run.

[jersey cubs fan]

Rotoworld said 50 mil this morning. Where'd Bruce say 5/75?

 

 

Bruce's Saturday article

 

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.

 

Bruce's Friday article

 

The pursuit of Fukudome will be costly in terms of dollars, especially in light of the free-agent contracts given to Andruw Jones by the Dodgers and Torii Hunter by the Angels. It could end up costing the winning bidder up to $75 million over five years for Fukudome.

 

And today

 

Fukudome may garner up to $15 million per year for up to five years.

 

 

Bruce is putting out 5/75 as the upper limit.

[CubColtPacer]

...our current window is small...we have to give it a go

 

A team with the resources of the Chicago Cubs should never have to think in terms of "windows". The Cubs should be a 90+ win team virtually every season.

 

I dont think I buy that, but I do think they should be far more successful then they have been

 

The Cubs hold a clear and substantial financial advantage over everybody in their division. Likewise, there are no Yankees or Red Sox like teams in the NL. The Cubs are usually in the top 2-4 of NL payrolls, and get to play against the weakest competition, year-in and year-out. An 85 win season should be the lower end of the expected range. They should easily be able to rip off 3-5 year runs of 90+ wins, or, at the very least, average 90 wins over that time frame.

 

The Cubs now have the financial advantage over everybody in the division, but they haven't had the financial advantage consistently even in the past 5 years. I also disagree that they should be able to average 90 wins a year just because they are 2nd-4th in payroll in the National League. How many National League teams have broken 90 wins twice in the last 3 years? The answer is: 0. Only 5 teams have even hit 90 wins once during that time, and 3 of those 5 had exactly 90. Expectations shouldn't be that the Cubs should be able to do close to what the Yankees and Red Sox do unless they continue to increase payroll into that range.

[HoopsCubs]

I'm going to guess that the winning bid will be 4 years and $56M.

[C.C.]

3/48 million with a 4th year option.

[Backtobanks]

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.

 

FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:

 

Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.

 

It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.

 

The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

[minnesotacubsfan]

thats it jimbo, SHOOT FOR THE MOOOOOOOON

[jersey cubs fan]

The Cubs now have the financial advantage over everybody in the division, but they haven't had the financial advantage consistently even in the past 5 years. I also disagree that they should be able to average 90 wins a year just because they are 2nd-4th in payroll in the National League. How many National League teams have broken 90 wins twice in the last 3 years? The answer is: 0. Only 5 teams have even hit 90 wins once during that time, and 3 of those 5 had exactly 90. Expectations shouldn't be that the Cubs should be able to do close to what the Yankees and Red Sox do unless they continue to increase payroll into that range.

 

They've had the advantage for several years now. Under Omar Minaya, the Mets have averaged 89.333 wins per year. This season's 88 win season was considered a disaster due to the late collapse. And that is just with 3 years to work with what his predecessors did, averaging 70.67 wins the previous 3 seasons. To compare, Hendry has average 81.4 wins, coming off a 3 year average of 73.3.

 

There is absolutely zero reason for this team to not consistently win 90 games.

[Post Count Padder]

Reel him in Jim. Reel him in...

[HoopsCubs]

thats it jimbo, SHOOT FOR THE MOOOOOOOON

 

It's going to be interesting to watch the White Sox on this. They've had a lousy off season thus far coming off a lousy year with an owner, who loves sticking it to the Cubs. I think they're a legitimate threat.

[Mephistopheles]

Does the increased expected revenue from having a marquee Japanese player offset some of that cost? I have to think so, but anyone have any idea by how much?

 

Unless I am mistaken, all international merchandise revenue goes directly into revenue sharing, as well as online sales except for zip codes in a 200 mile radius. The only way the Cubs can profit directly off of this deal is by selling ads to Japanese, or a cable deal. One way is to have the green screen behind home plate display Japanese ads whenever Fukudome is batting, because obviously they'll get more play in Japan than say, Ryan Theriot's.

[98navigator]

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.

 

FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:

 

Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.

 

It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.

 

The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

 

Where did you find this note?

[C.C.]

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.

 

FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:

 

Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.

 

It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.

 

The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

 

Where did you find this note?

 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[ctcf]

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.

 

FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:

 

Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.

 

It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.

 

The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

 

Where did you find this note?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[ctcf]

Cubs Willing To Offer $50MM For Fukudome?

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 10:48am: Just talked to a good source on this stuff. He told me Fukudome wants five years, despite what we've read. The Cubs don't expect he'll sign for $50MM for five years, and are offering that amount over four. They're having an internal debate about stretching it to a five-year, $65MM offer. Jim Hendry wants to stop at four years though.

 

FROM 12-11-07 at 10:03am:

 

Interesting piece of information from Tom Krasovic today - he says the Cubs are willing to offer close to $50MM for Kosuke Fukudome. They really want this guy and have built their offseason plan around him.

 

It's hard to believe the Cubs would offer that amount for three years; that would be $16.6MM annually to someone who's never played in the Majors. I could definitely see the Cubs putting out a four-year, $50MM offer though. Who knows how much validity there is to the idea that Fukudome wants three years and only three years.

 

The Padres have gone at least three years and at least $10MM annually, but it could be more on both accounts. Kevin Towers says the team's offer was final. He sees Fukudome landing in Chicago or San Diego. That might mean he considers the White Sox to be in the mix as well.

 

Where did you find this note?

 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

 

Curses!

[KenCub]

thats it jimbo, SHOOT FOR THE MOOOOOOOON

 

It's going to be interesting to watch the White Sox on this. They've had a lousy off season thus far coming off a lousy year with an owner, who loves sticking it to the Cubs. I think they're a legitimate threat.

 

I think they're at the point this offseason where they might feel desperate to sign someone, just to try to offset the failed Hunter and Cabrera attempts. They don't normally do 5-year deals, although they offered one to Hunter, so it'll be interesting to see if the Hunter offer was an abberation or a shift in their policy.

If the Cubs land Fukudome, do you think Pie becomes trade bait, or will Fukudome play right field?

[YearofDaCubs]

thats it jimbo, SHOOT FOR THE MOOOOOOOON

 

It's going to be interesting to watch the White Sox on this. They've had a lousy off season thus far coming off a lousy year with an owner, who loves sticking it to the Cubs. I think they're a legitimate threat.

 

I think they're at the point this offseason where they might feel desperate to sign someone, just to try to offset the failed Hunter and Cabrera attempts. They don't normally do 5-year deals, although they offered one to Hunter, so it'll be interesting to see if the Hunter offer was an abberation or a shift in their policy.

If the Cubs land Fukudome, do you think Pie becomes trade bait, or will Fukudome play right field?

I think it makes too much sense for them to try and sign Rowand though with all the man-love the White Sox fans have with him.

[Roast]

Just woke up - I have a final in an hour and ten minutes. I really hope this is resolved when I get back so I can buckle down and finish that paper I have due tomorrow. Ugh. GO GET 'EM HENDRY!