How The Furcal Domino May Fall

If Rafael Furcal is coming back to Atlanta, he's definitely taking the scenic route.

Several media sources are reporting that Rafael Furcal has accepted in principle a 3-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. The deal supposedly includes a vesting option for a 4th year at a price of about $10M per season.

But, that's not the case just yet.

If Furcal does return to the infield that allowed him to become a marquee shortstop and win the 2000 National League Rookie of the Year, it won't be without some shifting along the way.

The first question many Braves fans would ask is "Okay, does that mean we're willing to include Yunel Escobar and initiate talks with the San Diego Padres about Jake Peavy?"

Not necessarily.

The second question would be "Since Furcal is a shortstop, what would happen to Escobar? Would he be traded or be asked to move positions?"

The likely answer is neither. Furcal was primarily a second baseman during his rookie year and the hopes that second base would be less taxing on the back that cost Furcal 120+ games in 2008 and allow him to play, stay healthy, and keep Escobar at shortstop.

The last question would be "Roger that, but if Escobar's at short, and Furcal would be at second, what happens to Kelly Johnson? Is he going to be traded?"

Probably not, it's still possible that he could be included in a package for a corner outfielder, but Johnson came up as a rookie in 2005 and played left field. He wasn't the greatest secon baseman on the defensive side. He's averaged .278-14-69 the last two years on the offensive side with an OBP of about .360.

He's not the power hitting outfielder the Braves were looking for, but he can play the position, and against lefties could sit and be platooned with Matt Diaz. He did out-homer RF Jeff Francouer in 2008 and scored 85+ runs in each of the last two seasons.

If the Braves do wind up signing Furcal, it'll be quite scary to see the Atlanta infield defense this year. There are injury concerns with all the players, but when healthy all four are good, if not great, defenders at their respective positions.

Furcal and Escobar would surely have the two best infield arms of any double play combination in the Major Leagues, as well as excellent speed and range.

Casey Kotchman is a Gold Glove caliber defender who's not only smart, but has big soft hands at first base. Chipper's the "weak link", but is still only a season removed from what should have been a Gold Glove season in 2007.

A Furcal signing would be a positive step, but may not be the finished product. It might be if Jason Heyward were ready to take over in CF, but his bat is still a couple years away.

Stay tuned!  Once the first domino falls, the rest would follow quickly.