Fukudome a Free Agent? Or not?

[bedir than average]

So Deanna and JimPotable(aka garstar) had led me to believe that Fukudome would not be a Free Agent, but today I read something different.

MLB4u has this

Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome will undergo endoscopic elbow surgery sometime in mid-August to remove bone fragments.

Many fans have been looking forward to his impending free agency this winter. However, if not for a new rule in Japan this year fans would have had to wait another year to see him hit the open market. His team, the Chunichi Dragons, placed Fukudome on the disabled list on July 24 after he complained of arm problems. By being placed on the DL, he fell 29 days short of the service time needed for free agency in Japan. But, a new rule credits him 60 days in reparation of the injury beacause he played at least 145 days in 2006 allowing him to still become a Japanese free agent.

Fukudome sought the medical assistance of Angels’ team doctor Lewis Yocum on Friday in Los Angeles before announcing his decision to have surgery. It will take about three months to fully recover, effectively ending his season and Japanese career. It stands to be seen if his arm, one of the best in the world, will be as strong as before.

This season, teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Giants, White Sox, Devil Rays, Mariners and Padres have been scouting Fukudome. At just 30 years old, the patient left-handed moneyballish hitter that can expect to command at least three years, $18 million and up to five years, $50 million. He made about $3.2 million this year while putting up okay numbers during an off year.

Fukudome is likely a slightly less power, but higher walk version of Hideki Matsui, at least if maintains the stastical relationship that he had with Hideki over there. Coming into this year he was a 306/393/545 guy.

Fukudome was hitting .294/.443/.520 with 13 homers in 269 at-bats before going down.

Source

He's an OF who previous to surgery had a good arm. But we can't know how that will heal.

Some team is going to take a gamble on him if this recent report is true, but I'm betting at the lower end, due to the injury.

[Jim Potable]

Yep, that report seems accurate to me.

Normally, a guy needed 145 days service time per season and nine years to aquire FA rights. Apparently, there is a new "special consideration rule" for an injured player -- like Fukudome -- who would be granted FA rights, despite his having played only up to July 17th this year.

***
Edit: What I'm wondering is where is Fukudome now? We haven't heard any reports. I thought he should have had surgery by now. I suppose it will all come out soon enough, if I'm not just missing something.

BTW, every article always says Fukudome -- and Iwase (Fukudome's teammate with 40 saves on the season, 54.2IP/49K/7BB/2.14ERA; who actually earned FA rights on the 21st) -- have yet to express a desire to change teams or leagues. In the above linked article, Iwase says, "I'll think about it when the season is over." Typical, I know. But these guys are not raising hell to go to the majors -- unlike Matsuzaka and Igawa were.

[Jim Potable]

Just thought I'd throw in an update on Fukudome's status here, as I had just run across an article from last Tuesday.

Fukudome had surgery in LA on August 23rd -- no wonder, we were last posting on the 22nd! -- and returned to Japan on October 3rd. Everything seems fine with the elbow so far. He played catch for the first time in a long while (throwing at 10m away for seven minutes, 37 tosses (got to love the detail)).

Of course, his team Chunichi will start the 1st stage of the CL playoffs on the 13th and there is virtually no chance he will play. He is not expected to start batting practice for another couple of weeks. Hasn't played for two months, and expects a tough road of rehab ahead.

For the record, Fukudome will officially receive FA rights on the 24th of October -- just after the end of the 2nd stage of the CL playoffs.

[Jim Potable]

Updating:

Earlier in the week, people familiar with the Fukudome situation (Sankei Sports) said that, in all likelihood, Fukudome will forgo free agency and resign with Chunichi.

And just yesterday (Chunichi Sports, Sponichi, Chunichi Shimbun in print, morning TV news), the club came forward with a reported offer of four years/20 oku yen ($17M) -- a huge contract to show their good faith in Fukudome. Club president Junnosuke Nishikawa indicated that the yearly offer doesn't reflect this season as much as how much Fukudome has contributed in the past and what the club hopes for in the future.

By the way, Fukudome's rehab is going okay.

[bedir than average]

MLB Trade Rumors: Kosuke Fukudome Rumors

Latest on Fukudome

Cubs, WhiteSox, Padres, Rangers, Giants, Yankees, RedSox, Mets

Not mentioned are the Mariners, but I have a feeling that they would explore a 3 year deal for a LH bat that plays solid defense, especially with the noise that AdJones is tradable.