Well it looks like Rafael Furcal will be headed back to the Atlanta Braves as reports are saying he chose the Braves over the A’s four year $40 million dollar offer that we blogged about yesterday. Furcal played with the Braves from 2000-2005 and still has his home there so when they came knocking, a deal was easily worked out it sounds like.

It’s also being rumored that Furcal wouldn’t even have came to the A’s if the Braves didn’t offer. He would have rathered re-signed with the Dodgers.

It’s unclear in which direction the A’s will be looking at now. Where do you think they should be looking at for a free agent or trade?

A’s Blog

Good afternoon A’s fans! I just have a little but exciting update for today as we have learned that the Athletics have officialy offered shortstop Rafael Furcal a contract offer. The deal would be for four years and pay him $40 million dollars over the four year.

You probably remember that the A’s offered Furcal four years and $9 million per year last month but he was wanting $13 million a year. Now it looks like the market has come down for the shortstops and the A’s are hoping he will take their new deal at $10 million.

As it appears right now, the A’s are the front runners to sign Furcal. The Blue Jays are dropping out of the running for him, and I don’t see the Royals spending $40 million on him. I also doubt that he goes back to the Dodgers.

A’s Blog

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General manager Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics are going into the Winter meetings with more flexibility then they have had in previous years and that could mean a big signing or two in the near future for the club. Beane had the following to say about the upcoming Winter meetings:

“Whether you’re looking at free agents or trades or both, the idea is to improve your club every winter,” he said. “That never changes.”

One player the team is going after is shortstop Rafael Furcal. Furcal took a guided tour around the area with Beane last week is the big guy that Beane would like to get this off season. Although no actual contract as been offered up to this point, Fucal and the A’s are still interested in each other.

One thing is for sure, in the first time in a while, Beane and company have money to spend this offseason and that is a good thing because the team really needs to improve before the 2009 season.

Oakland Athletics