Sounds close!

by teacher tom on Nov 30, 2005 8:23 AM CST

Source: Cubs' offer pleasing to Furcal

By David O'Brien
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published November 30, 2005

ATLANTA -- Braves free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal is leaning toward signing with the Cubs.

A source familiar with negotiations said Furcal has received a five-year offer from the Cubs that is significantly better than the one the Braves have offered in dollars and contract length.

The race for Furcal apparently is down to two or three teams--the Braves, Cubs and possibly the Dodgers--with a decision expected within a few days.

Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, was waiting to hear what the Dodgers offered in a Tuesday night meeting in Los Angeles between Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and an associate of Kinzer's.

Kinzer met with the Braves on Monday after meeting with Cubs officials on Sunday.

The Dodgers entered the Furcal sweepstakes last week after Colletti was hired as GM.

But the Braves and Cubs are front-runners in the chase for Furcal, who got phone calls from Cubs manager Dusty Baker and several Cubs players, including Greg Maddux, a former Braves pitcher.

"He's very comfortable with both [Atlanta and Chicago]," Kinzer said. "He has a lot of friends on the Cubs, and you know his comfort level here with the Braves, especially with Bobby [Cox] and Andruw [Jones].

"And the Dodgers--we'd have to see what's going on there. They got into it late, but we're going to listen to what Ned has to offer."

Kinzer said Furcal's respect and loyalty to Cox has made the entire process difficult.

"It's making the decision a lot tougher," Kinzer said. "He does appreciate everything that happened here. I'm telling you, we've had a lot of calls, and if we pursued a lot of the teams that called, there'd be a lot more money on the table."

A source also said the Braves and Devil Rays had resumed talks Tuesday about shortstop Julio Lugo, 30, who batted .295 with six homers, 57 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in a career-best season while batting leadoff and second.

Now, if we can get Abreu, and get rid of Patterson, I'll be a happy Cub fan! But I'll miss Garciaparra greatly!

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