December 16, 200817 yr 12/16/08 5:24 AM EST Furcal on verge of signing with Braves Contract agreement expected to be announced on Tuesday MLB.com The Braves appear to be on the cusp of bringing back shortstop Rafael Furcal, one of the most productive players in the team's recent history, according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. A Major League source told Fox Sports that Furcal has decided to return to his first franchise, with a contract agreement expected to be announced Tuesday, conditional on Furcal passing a physical. The deal is believed to be for three years with a vesting option for a fourth. Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, told FOXSports.com on Monday night before the report broke, "[The Braves] are in deep. He's seriously considering it." The Oakland A's have been the front-runner to acquire the shortstop's services, offering what is believed to be the only four-year deal that Furcal received. However, Furcal is said to prefer returning to either one of the two franchises for which he's played: the Braves or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Furcal played six seasons for the Braves, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2000 and making the All-Star team in 2003, when he finished third in the National League in runs scored with 130. He then signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Dodgers. Furcal was limited by back issues in 2008, but did hit .357 with 16 RBIs in 36 games. The Braves already have a potential All-Star caliber shortstop in Yunel Escobar. The strong-armed Furcal could conceivably move to second base, or the Braves could use Escobar as trade bait. Escobar had previously been mentioned in trade talks for San Diego ace Jake Peavy. The Padres recently broke off talks with the Cubs for Peavy, but didn't rule out revisiting talks with other teams.
December 16, 200817 yr This will allow the Braves to re-engage the Padres in trade talks for Jake Peavy. I really think that the Braves need Jake Peavy in their rotation. Will be very interested in seeing who starts the talks back up again.
December 16, 200817 yr If the Braves managed to get Peavy, do u think that makes the NL East the best division in baseball?
December 16, 200817 yr Although I would hate to see Peavy, I would love to send Escobar out west and out of my sight.
December 16, 200817 yr i'm so happy my boy decided to come back to atlanta, but at the same time, i don't want to get rid of yunel, because i see his defense to be just as good, or perhaps better than furcals. this is probably going to open the door for a peavy trade again, by getting rid of escobar or johnson. i would trade away johnson because his trade value is peaking and escobar is still rising. if we got another good pitcher, watch out, we're back.
December 16, 200817 yr The way I see this playing out is, the Peavy deal is still dead. I think we deal Kelly Johnson to either Pit for Paul Maholm or to STL in a deal for Ankiel or Ludwick. As for pitching, I think we are very interested in Kenshin Kawakami from Japan or my personal preference, Oliver Perez. With Martin Prado on the bench with Matt Diaz and others I think we have plenty of depth there and should be able to make a good push this season.
December 16, 200817 yr That would be weird if the Braves got back two of their former players (Furcal and Oliver Perez) in the same offseason.
December 16, 200817 yr The way I see this playing out is, the Peavy deal is still dead. I think we deal Kelly Johnson to either Pit for Paul Maholm or to STL in a deal for Ankiel or Ludwick. As for pitching, I think we are very interested in Kenshin Kawakami from Japan or my personal preference, Oliver Perez. With Martin Prado on the bench with Matt Diaz and others I think we have plenty of depth there and should be able to make a good push this season. Forgot about Zach Grienke, hes another pitcher option for us.
December 16, 200817 yr That would be weird if the Braves got back two of their former players (Furcal and Oliver Perez) in the same offseason. Oliver Perez never played with the Braves, you are most likely thinking of Odalis Perez
December 16, 200817 yr If the Braves managed to get Peavy, do u think that makes the NL East the best division in baseball? It already is.
December 16, 200817 yr If the Braves managed to get Peavy, do u think that makes the NL East the best division in baseball? It already is. Really? I don't think so.
December 16, 200817 yr The way I see this playing out is, the Peavy deal is still dead. I think we deal Kelly Johnson to either Pit for Paul Maholm or to STL in a deal for Ankiel or Ludwick. As for pitching, I think we are very interested in Kenshin Kawakami from Japan or my personal preference, Oliver Perez. With Martin Prado on the bench with Matt Diaz and others I think we have plenty of depth there and should be able to make a good push this season. Forgot about Zach Grienke, hes another pitcher option for us. Would probably cost at least Escobar.
December 16, 200817 yr The way I see this playing out is, the Peavy deal is still dead. I think we deal Kelly Johnson to either Pit for Paul Maholm or to STL in a deal for Ankiel or Ludwick. As for pitching, I think we are very interested in Kenshin Kawakami from Japan or my personal preference, Oliver Perez. With Martin Prado on the bench with Matt Diaz and others I think we have plenty of depth there and should be able to make a good push this season. Forgot about Zach Grienke, hes another pitcher option for us. Would probably cost at least Escobar. They were talking about Kelly Johnson or Escobar but either way, we have Furcal now and Prado so we can deal either.
December 16, 200817 yr I just talked to a buddy of mines Doug Wilson who's a scout with the Dodgers and he said that the Dodgers are still in it and that why its not official yet to the Braves..... Doesnt mean he's not gonna go to the Braves he just told me that he's hopeing that the Dodgers up there offer...
December 16, 200817 yr Man the NL east is going to be nasty this year if all the teams play to their ability. But as we all know that never happens.
December 17, 200817 yr If the Braves managed to get Peavy, do u think that makes the NL East the best division in baseball? It already is. AL East > NL East
December 17, 200817 yr Wow if the Braves manage to keep escobar and get Peavy they'd have a solid Infield 1B Kotchman 2B Furcal SS Escobar 3B Admin Jones I think they should get andrew jones back but for a smaller contract maybe 2 years 5 mil Maybe all he needs is to come back home
December 17, 200817 yr I think they should get andrew jones back but for a smaller contract maybe 2 years 5 mil Maybe all he needs is to come back home no, he's too fat. i don't know what he needs right now, but a trip home won't fix his swing because he won't listen to his hitting coach.
December 17, 200817 yr i really dont want to see furcal back in the east and i would do anything to get rid of escobar that show off jackass.....hes almost as damn annoying as reyes
December 17, 200817 yr i really dont want to see furcal back in the east and i would do anything to get rid of escobar that show off jackass.....hes almost as damn annoying as reyes Hows he a showoff?
December 17, 200817 yr i really dont want to see furcal back in the east and i would do anything to get rid of escobar that show off jackass.....hes almost as damn annoying as reyes Hows he a showoff? His fricken bat flip he does every time he hits the ball. He carrys him self in a arrogant way too. Id also love to see that man gone hie rips our pitching.
December 17, 200817 yr i really dont want to see furcal back in the east and i would do anything to get rid of escobar that show off jackass.....hes almost as damn annoying as reyes Hows he a showoff? His fricken bat flip he does every time he hits the ball. He carrys him self in a arrogant way too. Id also love to see that man gone hie rips our pitching. Escobar did a few things last year a rookie has no business doing, and if not for close games, he would have been drilled a few times...
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