Furcal might not be Atlanta-bound
Rafael Furcal might not be an Atlanta Brave just yet, much to the dismay of the Atlanta Braves.
Because while certain people in the organization were confirming Tuesday that, yes, the Braves had come to an agreement to bring their former shortstop back to Atlanta after three years in L.A., Furcal's agents – Paul Kinzer and Arn Tellem – were still doing business with the Dodgers.
The normally accessible Kinzer on Tuesday couldn't be reached, his phone going straight to voice mail. Tellem is notoriously difficult to reach, and returned neither emails or phone calls.
Meantime, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said mid-afternoon PT Tuesday that he he was under the impression he was still negotiating.
About Furcal.
And about Furcal playing for the Dodgers.
So, despite those reports (and the Braves' apparent assumption it was done), it appears Furcal by early evening in Atlanta was still choosing between offers, and still hoping the Dodgers would come up on their original offer of two guaranteed seasons with an option for a third.
The Braves, meanwhile, believed they had "a gentleman's agreement," with Furcal, a source said. Braves spokesman Brad Hainje would only say, "We don't have any plans to make an announcement today."
A possible source of the confusion is that Furcal's point man with the Braves is the Atlanta-based Kinzer. With the Dodgers, it is the L.A.-based Tellem.
A source said Furcal was en route Tuesday from the Dominican Republic to New York to tend to personal business and the Braves expected him in Atlanta on Wednesday to take a physical. Team doctors apparently already have signed off on Furcal's back, which required surgery in July.
