Hot- Stove

Furcal, the top free-agent shortstop on the open market this year, has decided to sign with the Dodgers, major-league sources said. The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the negotiations, said the deal is for three years and $33 million.

Furcal gets $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011, according to AP. The deal includes a $13 million team option for 2012 with a $3 million buyout.

On Monday night, the Braves were under the distinct impression that they had a deal with Furcal. On Tuesday, the Dodgers re-entered the discussions, and by Wednesday afternoon the Dodgers and Furcal were hammering out the terms of an agreement, sources said.

The Braves on Wednesday were informed that Furcal would not accept their deal.

Atlanta, according to sources, offered Furcal a three-year deal worth approximately $30 million, and included a vesting option for a fourth year that would have pushed the potential value of the deal to approximately $40 million.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, had been reluctant to re-sign Furcal long-term due to medical concerns. On Tuesday, however, they suddenly showed interest in extending their offer beyond two guaranteed years.

Furcal’s reasons for choosing the Dodgers over the Braves are unclear. But he will remain at shortstop with the Dodgers; the Braves, depending upon the outcome of other moves, might have moved him to second base.

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.

Furcal, 31, left the Braves for the Dodgers after the 2005 season, signing a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract.

For the Braves, the loss of Furcal represents their third major setback of the offseason.

The first came when they failed to reach a trade agreement for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy after weeks of negotiations.

The second occurred when they were outbid for free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Yankees.

Furcal was less important to the Braves than either of those starting pitchers, but his addition would have created opportunities for the team to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson for either outfield help or pitching.

"The Dodgers, making their first major move under new general manager Ned Colletti, have signed free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal to a three-year contract worth 39 million, FOXSports.com has confirmed.

The deal, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, will enable the Dodgers to move shortstop Cesar Izturis to second base when he returns from elbow-ligament transplant surgery in July. Second baseman Jeff Kent likely will move to first.

The Dodgers outbid both the Cubs and Braves for Furcal. Both those clubs are now expected to pursue Devil Rays shortstop Julio Lugo in a trade. The Braves, who lost their closer, Kyle Farnsworth, to the Yankees earlier this week, also will seek to add bullpen help.

Furcal, 28, will be the game’s second-highest paid shortstop, behind only the Yankees’ Derek Jeter. He will be a free agent again at 31."

In another case of a team coming in at the 11th hour and swiping a coveted free agent, Rafael Furcal(SS, ATL) has agreed in principle to a 3 year, 40 million dollar contract.