Major League sources close to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago say that at least four teams are “zeroing in on” Kosuke Fukudome. The right fielder though is not worried about the trade talks. “It really doesn’t bother me,” he said through his interpreter. “As long as I’m a player and people are interested in me, I take it as a compliment.”

Levine says that Fukudome could be a fit for the Indians, who are looking for an outfielder, but he has a limited no-trade clause and it is unknown if the Indians are on it.

Fukudome is set to earn $14.5 million this season, but Levine says it is probable the Cubs would pay some of that money if they really want to trade the 34-year old veteran.

“Personally, I don’t think a trade is a negative thing,” Fukudome said. “If another team wants me to play for them in their organization, that seems to be a positive. It is true though, that in Japan, a trade of a player is not necessarily viewed as a positive thing.”

Fukudome is hitting .272/.374/.371 with 3 HR’s and 13 RBI’s in 283 AB’s for the Cubs in 2011.

Image by mjl816 under the Creative Commons License.