The Braves have scored a major offseason upset, luring free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal back to Atlanta. In a stunning turnaround, Furcal spurned the A’s for a three-year deal with the Braves worth approximately $30 million, according to major-league sources.
The A’s are believed to have made the high offer for Furcal — four years guaranteed in the $40 million range, according to major-league sources. The Braves, however, made a late, rapid push for Furcal, who owns homes in Atlanta and Los Angeles and preferred to rejoin the Braves or stay with the Dodgers.
Furcal, 31, left the Braves for the Dodgers after the 2005 season, signing a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract. His return to Atlanta gives the Braves stunning flexibility in their middle infield, perhaps enabling them to revive their trade talks for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy.
Furcal could switch to second base, a position he has played in winter ball, if the Braves move Kelly Johnson to left field or trade Johnson for an outfielder or pitching help. Or, Furcal could remain at shortstop if the Braves trade Yunel Escobar, either as part of a Peavy package or in a separate deal.
The availability of Peavy, however, is unclear, and Braves officials have not even discussed him in recent weeks, one source said.
The Braves began the offseason intent on landing two quality starting pitchers. They acquired right-hander Javier Vazquez from the White Sox, but failed in attempts to land Peavy and sign free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett.
The addition of Furcal could lead the Braves to continue their pursuits of less prominent free-agent pitchers such as left-hander Randy Wolf and Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami. But it also would give them the option to explore bigger deals.
Kinzer said last week that the A’s, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Royals were the four finalists for Furcal. The Blue Jays and Royals, however, fell out of the running due to economic reasons, according to major-league sources. The Dodgers apparently were not willing to offer Furcal more than two years.
Orlando Cabrera would become the top shortstop on the free-agent market if the Braves complete their deal with Furcal, becoming a prime candidate for the Dodgers. Other options for the Dodgers would include re-signing Angel Berroa, a lesser free agent, or trading for the Pirates’ Jack Wilson.