Furcal elects to stay with Dodgers

Dec 18, 2008 - 1:33 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Rafael Furcal has finally made up his mind.

After going back and forth over the last two weeks, the free-agent shortstop has apparently decided to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he has spent the last three seasons.

According to a report Wednesday in The Los Angeles Times, Furcal has agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with the Dodgers after flirtations with both the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics.

FoxSports.com reported on Tuesday that Furcal had agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Atlanta, where he spent the first six seasons of his career.

However, the deal was apparently nothing more than a "gentleman's agreement," and Furcal and his agent, Paul Kinzer, decided to re-open talks with the Dodgers.

In fact, Kinzer told reporters in New York on Wednesday that "things are swinging back toward the (Los Angeles) Dodgers, probably."

Kinzer has done a fantastic job of playing the Braves and Dodgers against each other, having said Tuesday that - while no deal had been reached - the Braves were the "favorite."

The Athletics also were in the mix entering this week and reportedly offered Furcal a four-year deal in the $40 million range.

Furcal left the Braves after the 2005 season to sign a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers.

A .286 lifetime hitter with 259 steals, Furcal played in just 36 games last season because of a back injury that eventually required surgery.

He returned to the lineup in late September and helped lead the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series, where they were dispatched by the eventual champion Philadelphia Phillies.

He hit .357 on the year with five homers and 16 RBI.