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Furcal Shuns Braves, Expected to Sign With Dodgers
Written by Colin on December 17, 2008 – 8:52 pmAt this point, we’ll be lucky to have anyone on the roster come Spring. The offseason continues much the way it has begun, with Rafael Furcal shunning the Braves’ contract offer and likely signing with the Dodgers.
Frank Wren said that he and Fucal’s agent Paul Kinzer negotiated all contract details Monday night and sent a term sheet over for Furcal to sign and return Tuesday morning. The term sheet was never returned, and Furcal appears to have reached an agreement with the Dodgers today.
Kinzer, who now reportedly won’t return voice messages left for him by major news outlets, but he said recently that there was no agreement reached Monday night and Furcal was going to sleep on it. By the way, Kinzer’s based in Atlanta, if you want to send him some holiday cheer.
Wren does not expect Furcal to end up in Atlanta. He’s quoted in the AJC as saying “I have not heard anything back yet. I don’t expect anything. What I’m hearing is that he’s going to L.A.”
Nothing is for sure – he could still end up in Atlanta, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
And so the offseason continues.
Tags: Frank Wren, Los Angeles Dodgers, Paul Kinzer, Rafael Furcal
Posted in Speculation | 25 Comments »
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
That's the impression I'm getting as well. I think it was just a move to show the Dodgers that there really was serious interest in him elsewhere. There was definitely some agent shadiness involved though.
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
That's the impression I'm getting as well. I think it was just a move to show the Dodgers that there really was serious interest in him elsewhere. There was definitely some agent shadiness involved though. Something tells me Kinzer idolizes Boras.
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Honestly, I don't know if I'm really all that surprised with how the offseason has gone thus far and all. It's hard to tell the full details of the situation, but from the news stories, it sounds like Kinzer is the root of a lot of the issues. Who knows? Maybe something will miraculously happen and we'll make an acquisition.
By David on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
This has been a really disapointing offseason for the Braves. Once filled with so much hope, nothing really has happened.
Close to trading for Jake Peavy. Padres sit on deal, and nothing happends
Get Javier Vazquez, but traded away what could be a future stud in Tyler Flowers. not looking like a good trade right now due to the fact the Braves have not added to the rotation
Close to signing AJ Burnett. Yankees outbid for him
Said they came to a "verbal agreement" with Rafael Furcal. Kinzer decides to wait for a counter offer (which he did not allow for the Braves to do when he left Atlanta) from the Dodgers, and ends up signing with the Dodgers
Horrible offseason thus far, but I do not blame Frank Wren like a lot of people are. Hes just having some horrible luck right now
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I definitely don't blame Wren either….It just seems that nothing's working out this offseason for the team.
By Joel on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I feel bad for Wren and the Braves. They were side-swiped by a horribly unethical move by Kinzer. He asks for a term-sheet!!! For what? to be give it to the Dodgers. I like how Wren reacted. He focused on the way the negotiation/business was done, not on the fact that he lost Furcal. I mean, it's ok to lose a bidding war against the Yankees, but this one's a whole different story.
Personally, I hope they take the seat out from under everybody and sign Teixeira. Lots of money left to spend, might as well spend it on a franchise player like Tex. Worry about Kotchman later.
By hunter on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Im a little upset that wren parted ways with Tyler Flowers, but im very grateful he has not even considered trading Tommy Hanson. Having Furcal back would have been nice but lets all admit it….It was a risk…..so was Burnett. After the Hampton saga we should be grateful that Wren has seemingly played smart on the business front. It may take a few years but I feel the farm system will prove to be the best of our product.
By Justin on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
So i have to ask everyone, who is our next target? I personally would love to see Ben Sheets in a Braves Uniform, but i have no idea anymore, has anyone heard anything about Wren's next move? I cant say that i blame Wren either, hes really trying his best and i cant say that i blame him for the peavy deal, he was already to do it, i blame Kevin Towers for that. Yankees will always be the yankees and overpay for everyone. But we have to do something big this offseason. I just dont know what anymore.
By hunter on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
i think we should just save and look towards the prospects coming up and maybe there will be a better free agent class in the following year. Sheets is another risk. Too much of one.
By Colin Ake on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Yep. I know it's a business, but I plan on making sure I'm at the first Braves vs. Dodgers game here this year. Furcal needs booing.
By Josh on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Well I guess I will turn most of my attention to the world baseball classic USA team…..
I dont feel good about this. Pull something out of your ass Wren .I know you can do it!!!
By David on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
It really makes me mad when I heard people saying how bad Wren is. I am pretty sure we can all agree that he is no Schurholtz. But people are mad that we did not get Jake Peavy. Wren did all he could to get Peavy. The Padres just sat on his offer, and Wren did not want to spend his whole offseason just trying to get that one piece. Because we sat with the Padres for so long, we missed out on Nick Swisher, who could have been our LF for next season.
Then people are mad that the Braves did not get AJ Burnett. I mean, come on. How many times are we actually going to win a bidding war with the Yankees? We dont have the kind of money like they do. When I heard the Yankees were going to make a serious run after Burnett, I knew he was going to the Bronx.
By David on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
(continued from above)
Then people are mad about trading away Tyler Flowers. OK, I can see that. But just think about it like this. The Braves had a great shot at AJ Burnett when this deal was made. With AJ, Jurrjens, and Vazquez in the rotation, with Campillo and (hopefully) Smoltz following, thats a very good rotation. But, things did not work out his way. While this was a questionable trade, Wren was thinkinging about the now, and not the future. If he was offered this trade today, he would not have taken it.
Now people are made that he could not sign Rafael Furcal. This was not his fault at all. Furcal had virbally agreed to a deal. The Braves sent him the papers to sign. His agent let the Dodger make a counter-offer, which he liked more. Nothing at all Wren could have done about that. This has just been a very bad luck offseason for the Braves.
this is not the team of the 90s anymore. People are not wanting to come here because of the name on the jersey. But be patient, the Braves have a great farm team, and will be very good in 2-3 seasons.
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Looks like it's official now that Furcal's going back to the Dodgers. I feel so . . . used. Just to get a better contract from the Dodgers.
By David on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I never even thought of that. When the Dodgers come to town, you think every one will boo him? Kinda like the total opposite Julio Franco got a couple years ago when he first came to Atlanta as a Met
By Cameron on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I dont think Ive EVER heard a GM dis an agent like Wren did to Kinzer. "I dont have to worry about burning that bridge, its already gone", I hope that changes when Moylan beacomes a FA, hes represented by Kinzers gay lover Arn…Some weird last name that I cant remember
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Arn Tellem.
I can't say I disagree with anything that Wren's been saying. He at least seems to understand that what happened was completely disrespectful and beyond his control. We'll see what happens from here I guess.
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I will definitely be there in the booing club.
By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
And for anyone wanting the details of Schuerholz's response to the situation:
“Having been in this business for 40-some years, I’ve never seen anybody treated like that,” Schuerholz said. “The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company — ever. I told [agent] Arn Tellem that we can’t trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I’ve never seen any [agency] act in such a despicable manner.
“It was disgusting and unprofessional. We’re a proud organization and we won’t allow ourselves to be treated that way. I advised Arn Tellem that whatever players he represents, just scratch us off the list. Take the name of the Atlanta Braves off their speed dial. They can deal with the other 29 clubs and we’ll deal with the other hundred agents.”
By Colin Ake on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I'm glad to see Schuerholz's response mirrors my emotions.
Seriously, anyone post the agency's email/phone/address and we'll publish it.
By Colin Ake on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I don't see us going after Sheets. He's been too much of an injury prone pitcher for us to even be halfway interested in him. I really don't want him on the Braves.
I think we may just hang out and hold off until next offseason. I don't see us going out and spending tons of money to try and make a mediocre team a little bit better, when we don't have a chance at going all the way. Rebuilding years can happen – we need to be ok with that.
By Colin Ake on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I'm certainly not blaming Wren for what's going on – all the cards are just falling the other way right now. It's not Wren's fault – it's nothing he can control – and I think we'll see his brilliance long-term. Scheurholz had some moves that didn't work out as expected too, so we'll see what happens. Can't judge history already – not a single inning of baseball has been played.
So what we do know:
- The Padres front office is unrealistic
- We hate the Yankees
- Paul Kinzer is a complete asshole
By Colin Ake on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
I don't think Furcal ever had any intent to come back to Atlanta. He's a bit of a whore as well, not just Kinzer. So much for loyalty to the city and team that brought him his fame. I know it's a business, but negotiating details to the point there was a term sheet requested?
By Colin Ake on Dec 19, 2008 | Reply
Kinzer works for Wasserman Media Group. They have 200+ employees. No use in harassing the entire agency – they're going to have enough issues now that the Braves won't deal with them. Hopefully we'll see some massive backlash against Kinzer from within the baseball community, and at least from his employers. Maybe they're fire him. It's what I'd like to see. I'm not posting their contact info because it wouldn't do any good, and frankly it's not worth our time.
By Pat_from_Braves on Dec 19, 2008 | Reply
I dont know where exactly Kinzer is from but I do know he bowls in a league in Douglasville on Mondays. I have a friend who bowled with him in recent months.