Cubs Trade Fukudome to Cleveland

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File

No one expected thee Cubs to be buyers as Sunday's baseball trade deadline approaches. Today's trade of outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians further solidifies the Cubs are in looking toward the future of the organization.

Fukudome was traded for minor league prospects, outfielder Abner Abreu and right-handed pitcher Carlton Smith, and will provide much-needed backup for an injury-riddled Indians outfield. The Cubs are on the hook for all but $577,000 of what's left of Fukudome's remaining $4.7 million in salary.

Fukudome was signed by Cubs GM Jim Hendry to much fanfare (and offensive t-shirt sales) in 2008 and started both 2008 and 2009 strong before faltering at the plate and in the field, winding up in a platoon position. His career numbers with the Cubs include a .269 batting average, .369 on-base percentage and 340 strikeouts in ~~513~~ 1,651 at-bats. Fukodome's .375 on-base percentage this season ranks 14th in the National League.

Tyler Colvin has been called up from Triple-A Iowa to fill Fukodome's former spot on the Cubs' roster.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on July 28, 2011 2:40 PM

Comments [rss]

kieller

** One of the stats is out of place: 340 strikeouts in 513 at-bats is wrong, its in 513 games or 1651 at bats. (That strike out number seemed really high.)

ChicagoD

Ah, but you are wrong. The Cubs are desperately trying to be buyers. Buyers of Greyhound tickets out of town for Soriano, Z, Ramirez, and anyone else who makes more that $10 million a year. Sadly, they are failing at this as well.