Kosuke Fukudome Signs with White Sox

Yet another former Indians player officially ended his tenure with the Tribe Tuesday as free agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Fukudome, 35 in April, signed a one-year deal that guarantees him $1 million. He’ll earn $500,000 in 2012, with a $3.5 million team option for 2013 or a $500,000 buyout—quite a pay cut from the $48 million deal he signed with the Chicago Cubs before the 2008 season.

The Indians acquired Fukudome from the Cubs for Abner Abreu and Carlton Smith in July. He hit .249/.300/.371 with 5 home runs, 22 RBI, and -0.1 fWAR in 59 games with the Tribe. He’s hit .260/.361/.399—according to wRC+, he’s been an exactly league-average hitter—with 42 home runs, 191 RBI, and 5.6 fWAR in four seasons since coming over from Japan.

That Fukudome signed elsewhere was not a surprise—there hadn’t been any rumors about him returning to Cleveland this winter—but now his departure is official. Best of luck to him in the rest of his career.

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