As has been rumored for about a week now, today the Cubs are expected to complete a deal that would send outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians, according to multiple sources.
Fukudome is in the midst of one of his better seasons as a Cub, and, as an impending free agent, he was one of the Cubs’ most tradable pieces. Fukudome is owed about $5 million for the rest of the year, and the Cubs will likely eat most of that. The return is expected to be a couple prospects, on which I will have more later today, if and when the deal becomes official.
SMALL UPDATE: I should have noted originally that Tyler Colvin is almost certain to come up and get regular starts in RF for the rest of the year. And, according to just about everyone, that’s what’s going to happen. There is also a rumor that the two prospects the Cubs are receiving are 21 year-old High A outfielder Abner Abreu and 25 year-old relief pitcher Carlton Smith. Without going into it too much – I’ll analyze when the deal is final – that rumored return seems awfully slim if the Cubs are indeed eating as much as $4 million of the remaining dollars on Fukudome’s contract.