According to Ken Rosenthal at Foxsports.com, The Chicago Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome have agreed to a 4 year deal. The deal is expected to be for approximately 12m a year.

We’ll see which Matsui he’ll follow in the footsteps of.

According to the AP, Kosuke Fukudome has announced he will play in the US next season rather than play in Japan. While there is plenty of interest from MLB teams towards him, there has been no new information towards who in the MLB he is interested in playing for.

And let the next round of Fukudome speculation begin. 

Gorden Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are currently the team to beat in the race to sign OF Kosuke Fukudome. The White Sox, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Giants have reportedly had serious interest in signing him.

The report also has a couple of trade rumors regarding the Cubs. As it stands right now, Mark Prior appears likely to land in his hometown of San Diego if dealt this offseason, though the Reds have also been linked to the 27-year old southpaw.

Also, Wittenmyer notes that the Toronto media have had reports out that suggest the Jays may pursue Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who is prepping a return to the rotation next year.

Here’s a roundup of buzz this afternoon on the Hot Stove front…

• Kosuke Fukudome is considering his options in Japan, and may not necessarily be making the move to MLB, reports Ken Rosenthal in Fox Sports.
• Ramon Castro’s 2-year $4 million deal is all but pending a physical at this point, reports the New York Daily News.
• If Kenny Rogers wants to return to the Rangers, he has to apologize, reports the Dallas Morning News. This Kenny Rogers stuff gets funnier by the day.
• The Padres are trying to sign an extention with Jake Peavy, reports the San Diego Union Tribune.
• Several juicy items on Buster Olney’s blog this afternoon. He reports that the Dodgers are very interested in Aaron Rowand.
• Olney is saying the Phillies are making a push for Mike Lowell but we reported earlier this week that the Phillies don’t have money for anything but pitching. Remember Olney also said A-Rod would sign for $220 over 10 years, so buzz baloney beware.
• Six teams are interested in Matt Clement, with the Padres being the most likely destination.
• Another rumor I do not buy is that Andruw Jones could return to Atlanta. Apparently the Braves just found a bunch of money between their cushions (they made a profit for the first time in years) and might actually spend it.

Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors reports that Kosuke Fukudome, the biggest free agent out of Japan this year, has received two offers from his current team, the Chunichi Dragons. The Dragons have offered a one-year deal and also a multi-year deal for the outfielder to consider.

If Fukudome stays in Japan, Dierkes believes Jose Guillen would become the best available free agent right fielder.