With the Major League Baseball trade deadline quickly approaching, and the Cleveland Indians struggling, Buster Olney is reporting the Indians and Chicago Cubs are nearing a deal for outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.  Fukudome, 34, is batting .273 this season with 3 home runs and 13 RBI in 87 games.  

According to the report, the Indians would send two prospects to the Cubs while Chicago would pay most of the $5 million owed to Fukudome this season.

For his career, Fukudome is a .262 hitter with 37 career home runs.  He is in his fourth season with the Cubs and is known as a solid outfielder, playing both centerfield and right field with the Cubs. Fukudome has thrown out 5 runners this year and has committed just two errors this season, something the Indians have struggled with recently.  With Shin-Soo Choo still recovering from hand surgery, the Indians will likely play Fukudome in right field.

Olney believes the deal will be finalized by game time Thrusday.