Dodgers Trade Rumors: Rafael Furcal to St.Louis Now? Live Updates

After many days of actively shopping shortstop Rafael Furcal, it looks like the Los Angeles Dodgers have finally received some interest from contending teams. Not only did Ken Rosenthal of MLB.com tweet yesterday that the Milwaukee Brewers are looking at Furcal along with Jamey Carroll, whom they were exclusively pursuing before, but the San Francisco Giants are also in the mix. 

Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors.com also reported that Jayson Stark was informed that the San Francisco Giants have inquired about Furcal. Here’s what he had to write as of yesterday:

“The Giants have talked to the Dodgers about Furcal, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Before the two rivals matched up on a 2007 deal involving Mark Sweeney, they hadn't made a trade since 1985.”

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti has been calling many teams over the past weeks in hopes of selling Furcal to another team, freeing the club of some of the $5 million or so owed to him for the rest of the season. Furcal is a free agent after the season, and with the emergence of Dee Gordon as the shortstop of the future, the Dodgers should not be planning on including Furcal in next year’s plan.

Furcal, who has missed over two months of the season due to two separate injuries, has disappointed thus far but is beginning to heat up. Currently batting .195, Furcal has had three multi-hit games in the past week and has begun to look comfortable at the plate. He also stole two bases during the past homestand, with his speed returning after rehabbing from injuries. 

His broken thumb and oblique strain that he suffered this year are just the beginning of the issues he has suffered from over the past couple seasons. Furcal is very fragile, but as a short-term rental he would be a great pickup for a contending team. 

The Milwaukee Brewers would be the optimal location for Furcal, where Yuniesky Betancourt has actually gotten hot the past couple weeks. Betancourt was batting .239 only two weeks ago, but currently checks in at .255. Betancourt has been prone to extreme slumps, so Furcal could more than adequately fill in and provide infield depth.

For the San Francisco Giants, Furcal could provide depth with starting shortstop Miguel Tejada out with an abdominal strain. Although Tejada is supposed to return next week, young fill-in Brandon Crawford struggled at the plate and the Giants may want an experienced bat off the bench. Tejada is also only batting .242, giving the Giants another opportunity to bolster their lineup with some speed from Furcal. 

The Dodgers would have to pay a portion of what Furcal is owed over the next months, but even if the Brewers or Giants sent over a low-level pitching prospect and paid a couple million, it would be more than worth it. Since Gordon needs to have experience as a permanent starting shortstop, the Dodgers need to start him immediately, even if Furcal is not traded.  

August 1st should be the start of the Dee Gordon era, and hopefully the Dodgers will have found a suitor for Furcal so he can go help a club. His veteran leadership and electrifying style of play (when healthy) can bolster a team’s lineup and propel it to a division title. 

Live Update: 2:46 pm EST

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"Buster_ESPN: Dodgers on the verge of trading Rafael Furcal to the Cardinals. Not done, but close. #trades"

- Buster Olney, ESPN.com MLB analyst

 

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This recent tweet suggest that Furcal will be a Cardinal by day's end, and the Dodgers have finally reached a deal for their shortstop. This would allow Dee Gordon to be recalled and to start for the Dodgers. Buster Olney has also stated that this deal means that Jamey Carroll will now stay with the Dodgers and that unless a team comes forward for either Carroll or Aaron Miles, no more middle infielders will be traded from the Dodgers. 

Stick with B/R to see who the Dodgers are receiving and to finalize the terms of the deal. 

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