The Dodgers may not have traded Rafael Furcal to the Cardinals yet, but a deal is very close. The shortstop has a no-trade clause, as a player with at least 10 years of big league service time and five years with his current team. According to Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports, the Dodgers and Cardinals have agreed on a deal, with the only obstacle being Furcal's no-trade clause.
It is not yet known what the Dodgers will receive in return, though they shouldn't expect a top prospect of any sort for a 33-year old infielder hitting .197/.272/.248. Especially one with a $12 million salary, meaning there is just under $4 million remaining. It is also unknown how much, if any, the Dodgers are paying of Furcal's remaining salary.
The deal is not yet official, though it is described as close by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com and Buster Olney of ESPN. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Furcal, according to a source, would not reject a trade to the Cardinals.
Furcal has had two different stints on the disabled list this season, once with a broken thumb and once with a strained oblique. Furcal picked a good time to get hot at the plate, hitting .364/.500/.500 in his last six games with three doubles, three walks, and two stolen bases.
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