Giants might bid for Fukudome

MORE LIKELY ROWAND

Mercury News
The Giants are interested in making a late push for outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who was expected to announce his intentions to leave Japan for the major leagues late Monday night.

A Giants official said the club remains in the running for the Japanese free agent, whom the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have aggressively courted. Fukudome is expected to receive a contract exceeding four years and $44 million.

Fukudome's U.S.-based agent, Joe Urbon, confirmed he has spoken with San Francisco officials but described the talks as "limited and infrequent."

The Giants are further along in discussions for free-agent outfielder Aaron Rowand, having spoken to his representative several times since last week's winter meetings. But it wouldn't be out of character for Giants General Manager Brian Sabean to strike late and fast on Fukudome.

"This process won't drag out much longer," Urbon said Monday. "If they are truly interested in Kosuke, I anticipate I'll hear more from them either tonight or tomorrow. . . . This deal could come and go before they're prepared to jump in with both feet."

The Giants are hoping to renovate their major league-worst lineup without sacrificing right-hander Tim Lincecum, who could be traded at any time to Toronto for outfielder Alex Rios. Toronto has left the Lincecum proposal on the table for more than a week, and continues to await Sabean's response. Sabean did not return a call seeking comment Monday, but last week he characterized the chances of trading Lincecum as "growing less and less with each passing day."

The Giants also kept trade talks alive with the New York Yankees for outfielder Hideki Matsui, who has more power than Fukudome but is nearly four years older and coming off knee surgery.