Here's the first of two or three batches of brief profiles on the key Japanese free agents.

Kosuke Fukudome - OF - The prize. At 30, Fukudome is the youngest Japanese player currently eligible for free agency. Hit .294/.443/.520 in 348 AB before knee surgery ended his 2007 season. Should be fully recovered for 2008. Hit .351/.438/.653 with 31 HR in 2006. .400 OBPs five of the last six years. Quality defensive right fielder with experience in center. While there’s been some talk that the knee could cause him to stay in Japan for one more year so that he can rebuild his value, he should be able to get at least a three-year, $30 million contract this winter. Think J.D. Drew without such major durability issues or the huge year-to-year variation in numbers.

Masafumi Hirai - RHP - 32-year-old righty reliever. 3.29 ERA, 30/10 K.BB ratio, .233 average against in 41 IP in 2007. 2.29 ERA, 44/16 K/BB, .220 average against in 63 IP in 2006. Has a Dice-K-type pause at the top of his delivery. Used to throw in the low-90s, not sure whether he still does. No indication whether he’s thinking of leaving Japan.

Hitoki Iwase - LHP - The No. 2 reliever available behind oabayashi. 33-year-old left-hander with 129 saves the last three years. 2.44 ERA, 50/9 K/BB ratio in 59 IP in 2007. 1.88 and 1.30 ERAs the previous two years. .226 average against over the last three years. Deceptive motion. 86-90 mph fastball, slider. Iwase is very likely to come to MLB and should be a top-notch setup man or a closer as a rookie.

Yoshinobu Takahashi - OF - Coming off his best season at age 32. Hit .308/.404/.579 with 35 HR and 99 RBI in 503 AB for the Yomiuri Giants. Right fielder and left-handed batter. Big leg kick at the plate. Previous best OPS was an 867 in 2004. Has had injury issues (2007 was the first time he had played in 120 games since 2001), and it’s doubtful he’d show the same kind of power in the U.S. that he has in Japan. I haven’t heard anything to suggest that he’s thinking of making the jump.