The Cleveland Indians obtained outfielder Kosuke Fukudome today from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor leaguers Carlton Smith and Abner Abreu.The Indians needed an outfielder in the worst way with recent injuries to Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo and Fukudome should step right in and fill some of that gap created by those injuries.
Fukudome brings an above average on base percentage,some decent speed that does not show up in his stolen base numbers and has an excellent arm from right field.
Fukudome will never live up to the "poor man's Ichiro" comparisons that accompanied him from japan and he is overpaid for his production,but is not a terrible player at all-just not as valuable as his salary would suggest.
Headed to the Cubs are AAA pitcher Carlton Smith and High A outfielder Abner Abreu..
Smith is not a huge loss and looks to be just another organizational arm,but Abreu has some upside and after injuries slowed him in 2009 (after a great start at low A Lake County) and 2010 at Kinston has rebounded well this season.
Abreu has plus power and an excellent arm to go with underrated speed,but plate discipline has been the main issue.
I rated Abreu as the fourteenth rated prospect in the system entering the season and I do hate to see the Indians give up on him,but the immediate need for a contending team in a winnable division took precedence.
For Tribe farm expert Tony Lastoria's take on the deal,click here.
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