Report: Fukudome to sign with Japanese team

Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who spent the past five seasons playing in the Major Leagues, has agreed to a three-year deal with the Hanshin Tigers to play in Japan, Sponichi News reported.

Fukudome left Japan in 2008 to sign a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cubs.

Fukudome, 35, played in just 24 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2012, hitting .171 with no homers.

He spent most of last season in the minors and was unlikely to get anything other than a minor-league deal if he stayed in the United States.