For several days, there have been reports that the Cubs have signed Japanese free agent
pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa to a two-year, $9.5 million contract.
The Cubs would not confirm or comment on the report.
Fujikawa, 32, played 12 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, totaling 220
saves, and a 1.77 ERA. Last season, he appeared in 47 2/3 innings and
compiled a 1.32 ERA. He was sidelined with an adductor strain and has
not thrown 70 innings in a single season since 2007.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the right-hander will receive a signing bonus of
$1 million and $4 million in salaries in 2013 and '14. There is a
vesting option valued at $5.5 million or $6 million, to be determined by
games finished.
On Friday, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer did confirm that he met with
Fujikawa about 10 days ago and that the Japanese pitcher toured Wrigley
Field. Hoyer said they were "very impressed" by the right-hander, but
would not comment on a time-table or the negotiations. Reports today indicate that Fujikawa's physical may be today and the formal signing will be announced at the Winter Meetings.
If true, this signing makes absolutely no sense for the Cubs. Why spend $13.8 million on two closers for 2013 when your team is projected to lose another 100 games? And why would Fujikawa come to Chicago unless the Cubs are vastly overpaying for his services? Yes, the Cubs tried to trade Marmol for injured Angel Dan Haren,
but Marmol is too inconsistent and too expensive on the current closer
market to be tradeable.
Another report today indicates that the Marlins fire sale is continuing at the meetings. Shortstop Yunel Escobar is on the market, and the Cubs are reportedly one team in the trade mix. Again, this makes no sense for the Cubs to add a .253 hitting shortstop when the club just extended Starlin Castro. Escobar does not play third, and would not be any better than Darwin Barney at second. This may be one of those general manager "ghost" team leaks to the media in order to drum up interest in their players, and drive up the asking price.
And that is the major part of the winter meetings: misdirection and media manipulation of rumors and speculation. Agents are present to pump up their clients abilities. General managers are present to wheel and deal and fill holes in their rosters. So fans need to take each report with a grain of salt.
If you are putting together a shopping list for the Cubs winter meeting, the priority of needs to fill would be (in order): third base, center field, starting pitcher (#2 caliber), right field, catcher, bullpen, and bench/utility (with some power).
So far this off season, the Cubs have claimed to address some of those positions. They have signed two 5th starters coming off serious arm injuries to replace Dempster and Maholm in the rotation. They signed a journeyman catcher to back up Castillo behind the plate. They offered Valbuena arbitration so he is the only third baseman on the current roster, which is not a solution.
