Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal is having a miserable year. He broke his thumb in April, which frustrated him so much that he openly contemplated retirement. Right after he returned to the lineup, he strained his oblique muscle. And while he's been healthy -- or as healthy as a player made from papier-mâché and butterfly wings can be -- he hasn't hit a lick, with a .196/.267/.241 line in 2011.
MLB Trade Rumors: Rafael Furcal Drawing Interest
But he was one of the better shortstops in the league as recently as last season, so it makes sense that there would be teams interested in him, especially if the Dodgers send I.O.U.s that are hastily scribbled on cocktail napkins from the hotel bar cash back in the deal. From Ken Rosenthal:
Brewers doing background work on Furcal.
Calling the references he put on his résumé, verifying his diploma, stuff like that. The Brewers are currently starting Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop, which is usually nature's way of telling a team to make a trade for a shortstop who isn't Yuniesky Betancourt.
But the Brewers aren’t going to be alone in their pursuit. From Jayson Stark:
On another Dodgers front, one exec who spoke with them reports the Giants have talked to L.A. about shortstop Rafael Furcal.
The Giants are alternating between Brandon Crawford and Miguel Tejada (when he's healthy), and the former should probably be in the minors to work on his offense, while the latter should probably be on the bench to think about what he's done.
Furcal might be finished, but he also might be in small-sample hell, and could still be something similar to what he was last year. Considering that he probably wouldn’t take much more than a C-list prospect or two, he could be an attractive option for teams like the Giants or Brewers.
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