It was brought up a couple of weeks ago that the Atlanta Braves might have interest in former shortstop Rafael Furcal if they traded their current shortstop Yunel Escobar, and now this from Mark Bowman:
With their pursuit of Jake Peavy put on hold, the Braves don't know if they'll have a need to find a shortstop. But if they eventually opt to deal shortstop Yunel Escobar, who was at the forefront of the Peavy negotiations, they'll likely attempt to lure Rafael Furcal back to Atlanta.
That's the sense agent Paul Kinzer has gained through the multiple conversations he's had with the Braves about Furcal over the past week. When he told his client about his initial contact with the Braves, Kinzer said Furcal was "shocked and excited."
I still don't like the possible decision to swap out a top-5 low-cost shorstop for a high-cost free agent shortstop and a high-cost pitcher acquired via trade, when we can keep the low cost shortstop and still sign a high-cost pitcher. I know it's all speculation at this point, but let's hope the Braves don't spend money this off-season for the sake of spending money. If we can't get the right pieces, then just wait until another opportunity comes along later this year or next off-season. We've got more questions than one year of free agency can answer anyway.