1:06pm: Furcal's agent Paul Kinzer ended the retirement talk, telling Yahoo's Tim Brown, "He'll be back. He's just frustrated" (Twitter link).
7:34am: Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal broke his thumb last night, and MLB.com's Ken Gurnick has his postgame reaction:
"I think about retiring if I'm not healthy. I feel so good with my back, now this — what do you think I am thinking?"
The recovery time could be four to six weeks, but Gurnick says Furcal will see a hand specialist today. Most likely, the 33-year-old shortstop was just emotional in the aftermath of yet another injury. He'll probably be talked out of the retirement idea by Dodgers teammates and management as well as his agent.
Furcal's contract, signed in December of 2008 amid all kinds of drama, calls for a $12MM salary this year. He also has a 2012 option for the same salary that vests with 600 plate appearances, which is no longer possible.
Most teams would suffer a major downgrade if they lost their starting shortstop, and the Dodgers are no exception. Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times runs through the team's internal options.
I wouldn’t read anything into his postgame comment except frustration.
I wanted to say Furcal was venting and had a “knee jerk” reaction, but if I really type that, he will be out 1 week after he comes back with a torn meniscus.
Yeah, so thanks a lot for that. ;)
So you’re the one who jinxed Bynum!
In other words, Furcal is not “pulling a”Manny”
So how is his D nowdays?
Unintentional LOL
Is this Dee Gordon’s big oppurtunity?
Opportunity to prove he’s overrated? Yes it is
Dee Gordon has a good 2 years and about 15 pounds to go…
Gordon is a work in progress, at best. In his last full year at double-A he committed 37 errors in 133 games. He’s already committed four in five games at Albuquerque. Better Juan Castro than Dee Gordon at this point.
Agree especially on Castro. Would rather see him up, and Ivan DeJesus getting his AB’s at ALB rather than not getting enough of them with the big club.
Poor guy… having to take a 4-6 week paid vacation from a $12 salary job. I can really relate.
The ignorance of this comment is ridiculous.
Talk about a “Lucky Break” for the Dodgers.
Furcal is not waling away from his $12 million this year d he w play next year if he is healthy at the start of the season. I do see him retiring within 2-3 more years. For now, I think it will be a mixture of Blake at 3B, Jamey at ss, and Juan at 2B and on other days Ivan at 2B, Jamey at SS, and Juan at 3B. The Dodgers this year will go as far as their pitching takes them, and the starting rotation should be fine. Kemp is off to a great start. If Loney can regain his 2009 form of .290-10-80 that would help a little, too.