Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 04, 2005
Go West, Young Shortstop

Rafael Furcal trades the congested freeways of Atlanta for the congested freeways of Los Angels. Reports are the he's about to sign a three year deal with the Dodgers for $40 million.

That's more money per year than Renteria or Cabrera received last season, and frankly Furcal is a better player. He'll be 28 next year, still in his prime. Over the last four years, Furcal's hit the 20 win share mark each time, twice hitting 25 or more. Neither Edgar nor Orlando was that consistent over the previous four years coming into their free agency.

I do hope, however, the Dodgers are buying Furcal for his defense. His offensive numbers are somewhat inflated by Turner Field. Here he is home and road for his career. There's a forty point fall off in batting average and a 30 point fall off in OBA. He's really hit poorly at Dodger Stadium, although it's a very small sample size.

No one put up more fielding win shares than Furcal among NL shortstops last year. If the idea is to improve the infield defense by moving Izturis to second or third (when he recovers from his injury), this was a very good move, and I don't believe the Dodgers have overpayed, given what was spent on shortstops last season.

Jon Weisman's take:

Is this Furcal acquisition like getting the Delino DeShields of daydreams without trading a Pedro Martinez for him?

Any deal where you don't give up a Pedro like player is a good deal.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:36 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

From a Braves fan, congratulations, you got a good player for WAY too much money. How can you call Turner Field a hitter's park, though? TF is most definitely a Pitcher friendly park. He just likes to hit in front of the home town crowd.

Posted by: Lew Hartman at December 4, 2005 10:47 AM

Furcal may not be spectacular with the bat but if you compare him to the player he's replacing (Izturis) he looks like Barry Bonds.

Posted by: Jon at December 4, 2005 11:02 AM

i'd take izturis over furcal on D. move furcal to 2nd or the outfield

Posted by: colin at December 4, 2005 03:26 PM
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