Furcal Sets Price at 50 million

[RockTheIvy]

Man, if I'm Furcal I fire Kinzer immediately. He's making Furcal look like a fool.

 

Yeah really. I mean Furcal is very good but is he that much better than Jimmy Rollins or Edgar Renteria? I just don't understand some of these agents sometimes.

 

Well, since you asked:

 

Furcal:

03: 292/352/443/25 steals (93 percent success)

04: 279/345/414/29 steals (83 percent success)

05: 284/348/429/46 steals (82 percent success)

 

Rollins:

03: 263/320/387/20 steals (63 percent success)

04: 289/348/455/30 steals (77 percent success)

05: 290/338/431/41 steals (87 percent success)

 

Renteria:

03: 330/394/480/34 steals (83 percent success)

04: 287/327/401/17 steals (61 percent success)

05: 276/335/385/9 steals (69 percent success)

 

First, Renteria is mired in an awful decline. That signing is only going to get worse and worse for Boston. Second, Rollins and Furcal are amazingly similar players -- Rollins' numbers are encouraging (for Phillies fans, I guess) because he still appears to be improving, while Furcal has been pretty consistent.

 

I'd probably give the edge to Furcal since he gets on base more, and we all know that's what a leadoff man should really be doing. Rollins got a 5 year/$40 million deal, so Furcal is probably worth (in market value, at least) a bit more than that.

 

Good think Epstein jumped ship before he had to answer for the big money long term deals he gave to Clement and Renteria. I know Boston doesn't seem to worry too much about budgets but I still think they are going to regret those contracts.

 

Don't forget about the deal to Varitek, which I believe is a gamble as well.

[cubweiser03]

how is it fair to give Furcal 5 years and Ramirez 4? i thought you had to earn things in this organization.

 

Different situations. Aramis wasnt a free agent last year. He gave up his chance for free agency this year by signing a contract with 3 more guaranteed years rather than 1. If he were a free agent this year their would be a lot of talk surrounding his hamstring. He got a good deal, plus he can opt out if he wants to test the FA market next year.

[jmajew]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051112cubs,1,7925414.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

In this article Furcal's angent says that he never mentioned 50 million. He said he just talked about length of contract. He is looking for 5 or 6 years.

[E.J.]

Found this little snippet in the Braves mailbag on their official site:

 

Some team sources have said the Braves aren't going to offer Furcal more than $8 million per season. Both the Cubs and the Mets will exceed that offer. They'll also possibly get into a bidding war that will take away the chance of the Braves getting a hometown discount.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Found this little snippet in the Braves mailbag on their official site:

 

Some team sources have said the Braves aren't going to offer Furcal more than $8 million per season. Both the Cubs and the Mets will exceed that offer. They'll also possibly get into a bidding war that will take away the chance of the Braves getting a hometown discount.

 

that's great news. i don't love Furcal, but Hendry's plan collapses w/o Furcal.

 

say we give him $9M per year for 4 years (maybe even an option on the 5th). 4/36 ain't bad, IMO.

[Careless]

Furcal is making me happy by overpricing himself, too bad Neifi didn't do the same.

Neifi tried.

[Andy]

Furcal is making me happy by overpricing himself, too bad Neifi didn't do the same.

Neifi tried.

And from the looks of his contract, he succeeded.

[YearofDaCubs]

I just cant imagine paying Furcal the same money as Aramis and Derrek Lee.

[goonys evil twin]

I just cant imagine paying Furcal the same money as Aramis and Derrek Lee.

 

no kidding.

[Bgbird68]

I'm starting to think I'd rather have Lugo.

[stitchface]

I'm starting to think I'd rather have Lugo.

 

I would definitely rather have lugo - for a quarter of the price.

[brinoch]

I'd rather have Cedeno, for 1/100th of the price. Focus on making a difference in the outfield please. Adding Furcal and Pierre doesn't impress me. Adding guys like Giles, Bradley and/or Wilkerson would.

 

Walker

Wilkerson

Lee

Giles

Ramirez

Murton

Cedeno

Barrett

 

This might also allow you to grab another starter -- Millwood or Burnett, perhaps?

 

Why spend $50M when you have a guy like Cedeno who will provide reasonably similar production for the league minimum. And don't make me rant about Neifi and Baker.

[JeffH]

Please don't sign Kevin Millwood. Please. Please.

[brinoch]

Please don't sign Kevin Millwood. Please. Please.

 

Personally, I'd rather have Burnett. But it's hard to deny that the AL's ERA leader would be a bad sign.

[JeffH]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

I deny.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Likely $40/4 or so for a 31 year old who couldn't even reach 200 IP in a supposedly "great" year?

 

I deny.

 

I wouldn't want him for 4/40, but I'm not convinced he'll get that.

[Mark_R]

I'm starting to think I'd rather have Lugo.

 

I would definitely rather have lugo - for a quarter of the price.

 

I thought he was slated to make about 5.5 million next season?

[Southpaw191679666239]

From Rotoworld:

 

Rafael Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, spoke Monday with officials of the Braves and Cubs. He'll sit down with Furcal in the Dominican Republic later this week.

"The Braves are still very much in it; that's all I can tell you," Kinzer said. Atlanta GM John Schuerholz isn't expected to go to $50 million in order to keep Furcal, but he hopes to stay in the race until the end. "We'd love to keep him, and we've made that known," Schuerholz said. Nov. 14 - 10:57 pm et

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

[JC]

Interesting that the Cubs are bidding against the Braves for Furcal, with the Braves being an organization the Cubs ought to try to emulate. Yet, the only way the Cubs get Furcal is if they outbid the Braves, essentially with the Braves conceding Furcal isn't worth the cost the Cubs are willing to pay.

 

Of course, the Braves may not wish to meet the Cubs' price because their existing offense and/or short stop replacement are adequate for their needs. That, in turn, begs the question whether the Cubs are hamstringing themselves and their future, to some extent, with an exorbitant contract to Furcal. Again, with such behavior being contrary to the Brave model.

 

Ah, offseason craziness.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm starting to think I'd rather have Lugo.

 

I would definitely rather have lugo - for a quarter of the price.

 

I thought he was slated to make about 5.5 million next season?

 

Lugo will make 4.95 mil in '06.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's an article on the Furcal negotiations.

 

The Tribune-owned Chicago Cubs turned up their pursuit of the free-agent shortstop Monday, but the Time Warner-owned Braves are serious in their desire to keep him.

 

"The Braves are still very much in it; that's all I can tell you," said agent Paul Kinzer, who spoke Monday with officials of the Braves and Cubs, the two leaders in the Furcal sweepstakes with the New York Mets waiting in the wings.

 

Kinzer seeks at least a five-year deal worth $50 million for Furcal, 28, and it was thought the Cubs might offer that Monday and knock the Braves out of the race. But the bidding hasn't reached that level yet, and Kinzer slowed the process so he could talk with Furcal this week in the Dominican Republic.

 

Braves general manager John Schuerholz always keeps things close to the vest regarding negotiations. All he would say Monday night was the Braves want to re-sign Furcal.

 

 

It appears the negotiations are down to the Cubs and Braves. My guess is Furcal's agent wants to see how much more the Cubs need to offer to keep him from the Braves. I suspect we'll see a resolution to this saga fairly soon.

[gflore34]

Here's an article on the Furcal negotiations.

 

The Tribune-owned Chicago Cubs turned up their pursuit of the free-agent shortstop Monday, but the Time Warner-owned Braves are serious in their desire to keep him.

 

"The Braves are still very much in it; that's all I can tell you," said agent Paul Kinzer, who spoke Monday with officials of the Braves and Cubs, the two leaders in the Furcal sweepstakes with the New York Mets waiting in the wings.

 

Kinzer seeks at least a five-year deal worth $50 million for Furcal, 28, and it was thought the Cubs might offer that Monday and knock the Braves out of the race. But the bidding hasn't reached that level yet, and Kinzer slowed the process so he could talk with Furcal this week in the Dominican Republic.

 

Braves general manager John Schuerholz always keeps things close to the vest regarding negotiations. All he would say Monday night was the Braves want to re-sign Furcal.

 

 

It appears the negotiations are down to the Cubs and Braves. My guess is Furcal's agent wants to see how much more the Cubs need to offer to keep him from the Braves. I suspect we'll see a resolution to this saga fairly soon.

 

Do you believe a Furcal decision will really start the ball rolling for this Cubs offseason? Moreover, I believe a Furcal signing is a key to keeping Perez out of the Cub 2006 lineup.

[goonys evil twin]

Do you believe a Furcal decision will really start the ball rolling for this Cubs offseason? Moreover, I believe a Furcal signing is a key to keeping Perez out of the Cub 2006 lineup.

 

Some believe that if Furcal isn't signed, Perez, and not Cedeno will start at SS. But if that's true, then even if Furcal is signed, and Walker is moved as expected, then you'd have to assume Perez will get more time at 2nd than Cedeno.

[gflore34]

Do you believe a Furcal decision will really start the ball rolling for this Cubs offseason? Moreover, I believe a Furcal signing is a key to keeping Perez out of the Cub 2006 lineup.

 

Some believe that if Furcal isn't signed, Perez, and not Cedeno will start at SS. But if that's true, then even if Furcal is signed, and Walker is moved as expected, then you'd have to assume Perez will get more time at 2nd than Cedeno.

 

Of course, after posting, I thought of that, with Furcal at SS, it'll be too easy for Dusty, I can hear it now..."2b is not Cedeno' natural position". Perhaps, a signing of Furcal and retaining Walker keeps the lineup Nefi-free.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's an article on the Furcal negotiations.

 

The Tribune-owned Chicago Cubs turned up their pursuit of the free-agent shortstop Monday, but the Time Warner-owned Braves are serious in their desire to keep him.

 

"The Braves are still very much in it; that's all I can tell you," said agent Paul Kinzer, who spoke Monday with officials of the Braves and Cubs, the two leaders in the Furcal sweepstakes with the New York Mets waiting in the wings.

 

Kinzer seeks at least a five-year deal worth $50 million for Furcal, 28, and it was thought the Cubs might offer that Monday and knock the Braves out of the race. But the bidding hasn't reached that level yet, and Kinzer slowed the process so he could talk with Furcal this week in the Dominican Republic.

 

Braves general manager John Schuerholz always keeps things close to the vest regarding negotiations. All he would say Monday night was the Braves want to re-sign Furcal.

 

 

It appears the negotiations are down to the Cubs and Braves. My guess is Furcal's agent wants to see how much more the Cubs need to offer to keep him from the Braves. I suspect we'll see a resolution to this saga fairly soon.

 

Do you believe a Furcal decision will really start the ball rolling for this Cubs offseason? Moreover, I believe a Furcal signing is a key to keeping Perez out of the Cub 2006 lineup.

 

Yes, I believe a lot of moves are waiting on the Furcal signing. I think the Cubs are holding onto Walker until then as well. Right now, we're looking at a MI of Neifi/Cedeno and Walker, but if Furcal is signed, Walker will then get moved. I also think Furcal lets Hendry know where to proceed in the outfield as well, and it also tells him how many dollars he has to allocate to other resources. A lot hinges on this one signing, because it is clear that Hendry has made it his offseason priority.