Rafael Furcal Rumors: Monday

Four teams are in on Furcal: the Giants, A's, Braves, and a mystery team. Stark talked to execs who guessed the Red Sox or Orioles could be the fourth team. That team apparently has to make a trade to open up their shortstop position.

being as how the o's don't have an everyday ss (donnie murphy/ freddie bynum anyone?) i guess they dont need to make a trade to open up room for furcal... must not be the mystery team

its amazing. every player has a "MYSTERY TEAM", ie someone the agent is making up to drive up the price. what a joke.

it would make sense if it were the Red Sox because they need a shortstop, would have to trade one first, and the Sox are very secretive about their free agent signings.

They may need a lead-off hitter too. Can they trust Ellsbury again?

I don't mean to say I told you so... But I did say the Red Sox were the "mystery team" a while ago. I was surprised that they were not listed on the poll and didn't vote because I'm sure it is the Sox.

They make sense to be the perfect mystery team. Lockjaw GM, pending trade talks for the current SS, rookie SS who may be better suited for the supersub role that players like Chone Figgins have used to crack into the bigs.

I love that little turd nugget Furcal!! He was always my favorite! I hope he ends up back with us, because he is a true Brave4Life!!

I was under the impression the "mystery" team was the Reds? I don't think the Reds are waiting to move anyone, but rather waiting to see what compensation the Dodgers would get i.e. zero. If the Reds add Furcal and Dye, that could be a nice fit.

I find it hard to believe the Red Sox make a move to sign Furcal; especially before they find a trade partner for Lugo.

Bit of a Catch 22 for them though, they probably won't find a trade partner for Lugo until Furcal, Renteria and Cabrera are off the market.

Eitherway, after the disaster with Renteria a few years back I think the Red Sox have little interest in Furcal.

The Sox ended up paying for Renteria for a long time and I think they will probably be happy to go into next season with Lowrie as their SS for the future.

Can't imagine the Sox are concerned about Ellsbury at leadoff as they can always move Pedroia or Youkilis to leadoff like they did on several occasions last season.

Not to mention, if the Sox are interested in Teixeira, there is just no way they create 1 potential logjam with Lugo/Furcal/Lowrie and then go after Teixeira and create a logjam with Youkilis/Lowell/Teixeira.

Teams would sit back and wait for the Sox to just give them someone as they would know they are handcuffed and had to move guys at that point.

Furcal looks good for almost any team, but for the Red Sox I think they are unlikely to put themselves in that difficult situation.

My darkhorse team is actually the Yankees.

Jeter has definately lost a step or two at SS and could slide to 2B. This would allow the Yanks to seek a solid trade for Cano.

Some rumors I have heard (xm radio) are the Yanks might be interested in Orlando Hudson for 2B, which is this might make some sense instead.

They would get Furcal for leadoff for the next few years and upgrade their defense at SS, I also would tend to argue Jeter would be an upgrade at 2B defensively.

Not to mention, dealing Cano could yield the Yankees a really nice player, most likely a pitcher.

Hey, Red fans, in case you missed it,

"That team apparently has to make a trade to open up their shortstop position"

This certainly implies that it would be a trade, and that it would have have to be an everyday starter that they trade, where in Cincinnati, they have 3 average SS in Gonzales, Keppinger and Richar sharing a platoon.

Of course Teahen for Escobar doesn't work. Escobar is a better hitter than Teahan and he plays a premium position at an elite level defensively. This would be like me asking if the Royals would trade Grienke for an ok middle reliever.

Honestly, I struggle to see the Royals and Braves matching up unless Grienke is involved. From the Royals' perspective, I would think 5 years of Escobar in return for 2 of Grienke would be interesting.

what about butler for escobar? jw or would they consider guillen????????

peavy costs to much we would have to throw in guillen if we did that deal. anyway that wont happen. heres an idea keep!!! grienke

By the way, wouldn't Escobar plus a prospect or two be the exact definition of a Peavy-lite type of package.

yes it would be Peavy- lite but you didn't say anything about prospects.

Still i think a Braves Royals deal is last case scenerio for the Braves.

Theo Epstein is staying away from the shortstop position, he knows better. Lowrie wil be starting, at least he didn't make 3 errors in one inning.

This is the first I'm hearing about any Escobar+ for Grienke deal. Is Grienke officially available?

Gee for a bad defensive shortstop no errors all year and playoffs. Made majors in less than 3 years after being a first round draft pick. Teams would jump at the chance of a 25 year old switch hitting shortstop. Had 49 rbi's in 81 games for a rookie, yeah Jrff Lowrie is a bum.

Furcal to the Red Sox makes little sense. They would be better off spending the money on extending Beckett or signing Youk/Pedroia to long term deals.

If Lowrie stinks up the joint next year they will either have Lugo to platoon with him or if they trade Lugo, there should be plenty of opportunity to deal for an equally mediocre SS like Khalil Greene or Bobby Crosby. Not to mention if the Astros struggle I expect they will put Tejada on the block too (as he is a free agent after the season).

Basically, there should be plenty of backup options for the Sox if Lowrie struggles so it doesn't make sense they spend the money on locking into a long term deal with Furcal.

The Royals have not said that Greinke is available. Rumors are being tossed out of the left field like crazy though because of the question marks on his contract.

Dejesus for Escobar?