Cubs win Fukudome sweepstakes  —  Japanese outfielder agrees to four-year, $48 million deal  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs' patience paid off.  Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the team, pending his passing a physical.

Japanese star Fukudome coming to Chicago to play for Cubs  —  The agent for Kosuke Fukudome said that the player would make up his mind on a major league team quickly after deciding to come to the United States.  He was true to his word.  —  After deciding to play in the U.S. early Tuesday morning …

Padres lose out on Fukudome  —  The Padres found out tonight that they lost out in their bid for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who accepted a four-year deal from the Cubs worth nearly $50 million.  —  The Padres were able to come to terms with Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who accepted a one-year deal.

Cubs land Fukudome  —  The Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year deal late Tuesday, outbidding San Diego and the White Sox to gain the services of their primary off-season target.  —  Terms of the deal were not immediately known, though it's believed to be worth …

Congressional members anticipate details in Mitchell investigation … Christopher Shays describes himself as a casual baseball fan.  He's the kind of guy who tracks the Red Sox and Yankees hardball rivalry from a distance but would never be caught dissecting box scores in the morning's Washington Post.

Bryant: Conflicts and missteps undermine Mitchell report  —  With the highly anticipated Mitchell report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball expected to be released within the coming days, scores of baseball employees who were interviewed by former Senator George Mitchell's investigators …

Texas Rangers not talking about Mitchell Report  —  Club not getting into details about league's steroids investigation  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  All of Major League Baseball is bracing for the 20-month, drug-sniffing expedition known as the Mitchell Report, which is expected …

Mitchell Report Expected to Name About 50 Major Leaguers  —  The headquarters for George J. Mitchell's investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball has been the DLA Piper law offices in Midtown Manhattan, right next to Rockefeller Center and just blocks from the Park Avenue offices of Major League Baseball.

Lo Duca spurns Toronto for Nats; Giants mulling Rios-for-Lincecum offer  —  Paul Lo Duca, the veteran catcher the Blue Jays had hoped to acquire to share duties with incumbent Gregg Zaun, has chosen instead to sign with the Washington Nationals.  —  The issue appears to have been one of money.

Nats sign backstop Lo Duca  —  Club signs veteran catcher on one-year deal worth $5 million  —  WASHINGTON — Paul Lo Duca's winning attitude and blue-collar approach are the reasons the Nationals signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract with incentives on Tuesday.