Konichiwa Kosuke Fukudome?

Padres.com reports that Friars are anticipated to make a run at Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome, a 30 year old southpaw outfielder who is the reigning Central League MVP. Anyone that bats .351 with 31 jacks, 104 RBI and a 1.091 OPS over 130 games will get your attention. Interestingly, his 2007 campaign was stopped short due to bone chips in his elbow. Like Trevor Hoffman, he has undergone surgery to remove the chips, but the injury will play into the risk/reward analysis in determining his worth on the MLB market. That said, Padres GM Kevin Towers stated that free agent crop will be particularly poor this off season, making a Yankees-like overpayment of Fukudome likely (thereby decreasing his chances of landing in a Padres Sand uni).

The Padres have not employed a Japanese player since Akinori Otsuka, who was traded prior to 2006 season as part of the deal that brought Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Young and Terrmel Sledge to Petco Park.