Furcal Drama

More to the point, its likely drama and miscommunication from his agents, but Rafael Furcal is apparently still deciding between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers:

Rafael Furcal might not be an Atlanta Brave just yet, much to the dismay of the Atlanta Braves.

Because while certain people in the organization were confirming Tuesday that, yes, the Braves had come to an agreement to bring their former shortstop back to Atlanta after three years in L.A., Furcal’s agents – Paul Kinzer and Arn Tellem – were still doing business with the Dodgers. [...]

So, despite those reports (and the Braves’ apparent assumption it was done), it appears Furcal by early evening in Atlanta was still choosing between offers, and still hoping the Dodgers would come up on their original offer of two guaranteed seasons with an option for a third. [...]

A possible source of the confusion is that Furcal’s point man with the Braves is the Atlanta-based Kinzer. With the Dodgers, it is the L.A.-based Tellem.

A source said Furcal was en route Tuesday from the Dominican Republic to New York to tend to personal business and the Braves expected him in Atlanta on Wednesday to take a physical. Team doctors apparently already have signed off on Furcal’s back, which required surgery in July.

Sweet! For once, the major league clubs are just as confused as we are. The Dodgers seem reluctant to go beyond two guaranteed years, and with the Braves reportedly already at three guaranteed years, I'm guessing the delay is all about money. Perhaps this is a ploy by his agents, trying to get the Dodgers to raise their offer to three guaranteed years with an option for the fourth -- the same deal the Braves are currently offering him -- in an effort to get the Braves to guarantee the fourth year. Hey, this is how agents think ($).

D-Fab thinks it might be more about the agents trying to save face with the Dodgers, giving them a chance to match the Braves offer. Perhaps they have other clients on the Dodgers and don't want any bad relations.

All are possible explanations, but we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out.