Fukudome Craze May Dwindle

Japanese All-Star Kosuke Fukudome will have elbow surgery this week and it is possible that teams will pull away from the All-Star outfielder. However, he can still enter the market meaning teams can look to sign him. The Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, and White Sox all have scouted him and are more than willing to pay whatever it takes to bring him over. But, will he be able to hit the gaps like he was before the injury. In 2006, Fukudome hit .351 with 31 HR, 104 RBI, and 11 SB. For now, he is probably a step behind Jermaine Dye and Torii Hunter and could command 15 million a year. He has good defense and cannot only hit the long ball, but the gaps too. But after having elbow surgery, will he be able to hit like he has been? That may pull a team like the Yankees away from him, who spent 30 million on Kei Igawa, who has been a bust.

Cubs lose out on Podsednik and Stewart: It appears that the Cubs could not negotiate any trade for either White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik or A's outfielder Shannon Stewart. The main reason they were looking to trade for them is to replace Soriano in left for the next month. But with Matt Murton playing well, why make a trade?

Jones losing the big bucks: Andruw Jones has failed to improve his season numbers only lowering his price into the price range of the Braves. When everyone thought he would be making at least Vernon Wells money, he is dropped to probably 13-14 million dollars a year.