Furcal Sets Price at 50 million

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MIAMI -- Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal has set a price tag of $50 million over five or six years for his next contract, agent Paul Kizner told ESPNdeportes.com.

 

"Things have changed significantly since the free agent period started. There's only one Rafael Furcal available and whoever wants to get him, will have to pay for what he is worth," Kinzer said Friday. "We're looking for a five- or six-year contract, and $50 million is a pretty realistic figure."

 

 

 

Furcal's agent says the free agent shortstop is willing to move to the outfield.

Furcal had previously said he would look for a contract similar to the one Edgar Renteria signed with the Red Sox before the start of last season, worth 40 million over four years.

 

The 183 players who filed for free agency since the end of the World Series can start negotiating money with all teams starting Friday. Furcal filed for free agency after playing the last six seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

 

Kinzer said at least five teams have contacted him, including the Braves, and are ready to pay what Furcal is asking.

 

The New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals have already shown interest in Furcal, and according to Kinzer, the New York Yankees have also contacted him to know if Furcal would consider playing center field.

 

Depending on who replaces Theo Epstein as general manager, the Boston Red Sox could also join the chase. A move to Fenway Park would mean Furcal would likely not play shortstop unless Renteria is traded.

 

"Raffy is OK with playing shortstop, second base or center field," Kinzer said. "Just give him a glove and he will play wherever you ask him to."

 

Kinzer and Atlanta officials will meet again next week, but there is no schedule for further talks.

 

"There will be a lot of talking now, but I don't expect to sign a contract until the beginning of December," Kinzer said.

 

After a slow start, Furcal ended the season batting .338 in the Braves' last 78 games. He finished the season hitting .278 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI. Furcal also stole 46 bases and scored 100 runs.

 

Furcal, who was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2000, has a .284 career batting average with 189 stolen bases and 554 runs scored.

 

 

 

 

I believe this is a ploy so that the Cubs think there are teams in the market for Furcal. I know that he wont get that much but if he does that is ridiculous. If Furcal really wants a 5 year 50 million deal we better call up Nomar real quick.

[WrigleyField 22]

Does he want 5 guaranteed?

 

4 yrs 38 mil, with an option for a 5th year at 12mil.

 

I have no idea if that would work, just throwing something out.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Pfff. Where is he going to get that money? 36M/4 is beyond Atlanta's range and the other suitors in that article (mentioned by the agent) are longshots other than the cubs.

 

If Hendry gives Furcal 50M/5, he is indeed...well, see avatar. :wink:

[RockTheIvy]

Pfff. Where is he going to get that money? 36M/4 is beyond Atlanta's range and the other suitors in that article (mentioned by the agent) are longshots other than the cubs.

 

If Hendry gives Furcal 50M/5, he is indeed...well, see avatar. :wink:

 

Yeah that's all talk. Furcal is good, but he isn't that much better than Jimmy Rollins, and look at what he got. It's not like we're talking about Shawon Dunston or something.

[JeffH]

$38/4 guaranteed.

 

Fifth year vests at $10 with 150 games started.

 

If the fifth year doesn't vest, Furcal can exercise a player option at $8.

 

If Furcal declines that option, Cubs can exercise a club option at $12.

 

If necessary, add a sixth year under the same terms as the fifth year.

[sonicdethmonkey0]

wow.

 

i wasn't that excited about furcal to begin with, and if this is even CLOSE to what it's going to take to get him signed, then it isn't worth it.

[Rooftop Bum]

Well I guess there goes Furcal. Hendry better start kissing Nomar's bum now.

[BigbadB]

I said from day 1 that it would be easier to bring back the guy who is already on your roster. Nomar's ship has already sailed. The day they shooshed Nomar aside to begin courting Furcal was the day they lost Nomar and any kind of incentive laced, low base contract.

 

Kind of makes you respect Todd Walker's 2.5m "I'll sit on the bench, I just want to be on the Cubs and help in anyway I can" attitude, eh?

 

Amazing that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes, especially when you just break down the production.

[David]

It's a negotiating ploy. None of those teams are bigger bets to sign him than the Cubs and he's not gonna get $50M from anyone.

 

Of course, this is what Hendry gets for looking so desperate.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I said from day 1 that it would be easier to bring back the guy who is already on your roster. Nomar's ship has already sailed. The day they shooshed Nomar aside to begin courting Furcal was the day they lost Nomar and any kind of incentive laced, low base contract.

 

Kind of makes you respect Todd Walker's 2.5m "I'll sit on the bench, I just want to be on the Cubs and help in anyway I can" attitude, eh?

 

Amazing that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes, especially when you just break down the production.

 

he can't play defense or steal bases. :roll:

[JeffH]

Todd Walker. How can any one player be so vastly underappreciated and so grossly overrated all at the same time?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Todd Walker. How can any one player be so vastly underappreciated and so grossly overrated all at the same time?

 

how is he overrated?

[E.J.]

Like I said in the other thread, this is just his agent trying to get as much money as possible for Furcal, just like Boras saying Beltran wanted a 10-year contract last offseason. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I expect 4 years in the $36-40 million range will get it done.

[BigbadB]

I said from day 1 that it would be easier to bring back the guy who is already on your roster. Nomar's ship has already sailed. The day they shooshed Nomar aside to begin courting Furcal was the day they lost Nomar and any kind of incentive laced, low base contract.

 

Kind of makes you respect Todd Walker's 2.5m "I'll sit on the bench, I just want to be on the Cubs and help in anyway I can" attitude, eh?

 

Amazing that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes, especially when you just break down the production.

 

he can't play defense or steal bases. :roll:

 

What's with the eyeroll? You're going to sit there and tell me that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes? Not twice the player or 3 times the player, but 4x the player.

 

Furcal had 27 errors in 2002, 31 in 2003 and 24 in 2004. One season at 15 (ahem, contract season), and all of a sudden he's a defensive wiz. I love it.

 

Furcal averaged 20 something steals until 2004 (his contract year). Then he magically steals nearly twice as many. You know for a fact he won't go right back to his lazy 20 something steals and 20 something errors once he signs his name on that big fat contract? Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera sure are earning their money these days, aren't they?

 

My apologies if I misunderstood your eyeroll post.

[frostwyrm]

I wanted Cedeno and Walker in the infield. Furcal is making me happy by overpricing himself, too bad Neifi didn't do the same.

[SpanishFortCub]

No offense, but some of you guys don't know crap. Nomar can't play SS at the major league level and stay healthy. Walker is a defensive liability. I mean, damn.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I said from day 1 that it would be easier to bring back the guy who is already on your roster. Nomar's ship has already sailed. The day they shooshed Nomar aside to begin courting Furcal was the day they lost Nomar and any kind of incentive laced, low base contract.

 

Kind of makes you respect Todd Walker's 2.5m "I'll sit on the bench, I just want to be on the Cubs and help in anyway I can" attitude, eh?

 

Amazing that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes, especially when you just break down the production.

 

he can't play defense or steal bases. :roll:

 

What's with the eyeroll? You're going to sit there and tell me that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes? Not twice the player or 3 times the player, but 4x the player.

 

Furcal had 27 errors in 2002, 31 in 2003 and 24 in 2004. One season at 15 (ahem, contract season), and all of a sudden he's a defensive wiz. I love it.

 

Furcal averaged 20 something steals until 2004 (his contract year). Then he magically steals nearly twice as many. You know for a fact he won't go right back to his lazy 20 something steals and 20 something errors once he signs his name on that big fat contract? Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera sure are earning their money these days, aren't they?

 

My apologies if I misunderstood your eyeroll post.

 

my eyeroll was at the statement i posted. i was mocking those that love furcal for his speed and defense (things walker lacks). :D

 

i agree with you about Furcal. he is severely overrated defensively and offensively, IMO.

[David]

I said from day 1 that it would be easier to bring back the guy who is already on your roster. Nomar's ship has already sailed. The day they shooshed Nomar aside to begin courting Furcal was the day they lost Nomar and any kind of incentive laced, low base contract.

 

Kind of makes you respect Todd Walker's 2.5m "I'll sit on the bench, I just want to be on the Cubs and help in anyway I can" attitude, eh?

 

Amazing that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes, especially when you just break down the production.

 

he can't play defense or steal bases. :roll:

 

What's with the eyeroll? You're going to sit there and tell me that Furcal is worth 4x what Walker makes? Not twice the player or 3 times the player, but 4x the player.

 

Furcal had 27 errors in 2002, 31 in 2003 and 24 in 2004. One season at 15 (ahem, contract season), and all of a sudden he's a defensive wiz. I love it.

 

Furcal averaged 20 something steals until 2004 (his contract year). Then he magically steals nearly twice as many. You know for a fact he won't go right back to his lazy 20 something steals and 20 something errors once he signs his name on that big fat contract? Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera sure are earning their money these days, aren't they?

 

My apologies if I misunderstood your eyeroll post.

 

I'm pretty sure his eyeroll was at the stupidity of the arguments used against Walker...

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

No offense, but some of you guys don't know crap. Nomar can't play SS at the major league level and stay healthy. Walker is a defensive liability. I mean, damn.

 

IMO, offense is far more important than defense. Walker isn't even close to being a butcher in the field.

[David]

No offense, but some of you guys don't know crap. Nomar can't play SS at the major league level and stay healthy. Walker is a defensive liability. I mean, damn.

 

IMO, offense is far more important than defense. Walker isn't even close to being a butcher in the field.

 

Not just in your opinion. It's a fact.

 

BTW, Nomar's groin injury sure had a lot to do with playing short, didn't it? :roll:

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I'm not surprised. I think GM's value him as much as Edgar Renteria and it's a tighter FA market. I bet he gets close to 5-50. Edited November 12, 2005 by CardsFanInChiTown

[HoopsCubs]

Julio Lugo, your table is now ready.

 

Agent ploy or not, let the Mets and Yankees fight over Rafael Cabrera Renteria Furcal. Let's get Pierre and Lugo deals in place, and focus efforts (and money) on RF and bullpen.

[CUBZ99]

Julio Lugo, your table is now ready.

 

Agent ploy or not, let the Mets and Yankees fight over Rafael Cabrera Renteria Furcal. Let's get Pierre and Lugo deals in place, and focus efforts (and money) on RF and bullpen.

 

With Walker already signed and pretty much a sure bet to have a .350ish OBP, and Cedeno ready to get a shot, why are the Cubs so desperate for a SS in the first place? I under stand Furcal is a top of the order guy, but with Lugo why bother?

[Andy]

This is ridiculous. If it takes more than 4/36 to get Furcal then call up Nomar, he's coming back with Cedeno as the backup plan. Give Nomar a 1 year 6M contract and call it a day.

[HoopsCubs]

This is ridiculous. If it takes more than 4/36 to get Furcal then call up Nomar, he's coming back with Cedeno as the backup plan. Give Nomar a 1 year 6M contract and call it a day.

 

If I was Nomar, I'd tell Hendry and the Cubs to go jump into Lake Michigan.