Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal has agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Dodgers, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday night on its Web site.
The Times, citing an unnamed source close to the negotiations, said the deal will pay Furcal nearly $40 million. His agent, Paul Kinzer, said he could not immediately confirm that the deal was completed.
The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the negotiations said late Saturday night, also reported that Furcal and the Dodgers were on the verge of completing a deal.
Furcal, who has played six major-league seasons for the Atlanta Braves, has a .284 career batting average. Last season, he batted .284 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs and 46 stolen bases. He drove in 58 runs and posted a .981 fielding average with 15 errors in 152 games.
Furcal, 28, the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, was expected to take a physical within a day or two to complete the deal.
Furcal chose the Dodgers over the Braves and the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs reportedly offered Furcal $50 million over five years, while the Braves offered $36 million over four years.
The deal with the Dodgers, worth an average of $13 million per season, is significantly more than the $40-million, four-year deal Edgar Renteria signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent last year.
Dodgers Gold Glove-winning shortstop Cesar Izturis is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to play until July. In that scenario, according to The Times, Furcal's signing would move Izturis to second base and Jeff Kent would play first base.
Izturis will be in the second year of a three-year, $10-million contract and Kent has one year left on his two-year, $17-million deal. Dodger general manager Ned Colletti said he would speak to Izturis and Kent about changing positions before signing Furcal.
Colletti was hired as the Dodgers' GM on Nov. 16, and said his first priority was to hire a manager. The team has been without one since parting ways with Jim Tracy on Oct. 3. Colletti was hired to succeed Paul DePodesta, who was fired Oct. 29 when close to the end of his managerial search.
Colletti has said his top roster focus was in the outfield. But he made clear his interest in Furcal, a slick fielder as well as an offensive threat and standout leadoff hitter.
Hampered by numerous injuries, the Dodgers had a 71-91 record last season -- their second-worst since moving from Brooklyn in 1958.
A year earlier, they went 93-69 in winning their first NL West championship in nine years. They lost the Division Series to NL champion St. Louis 3-1, but won their first postseason game in 16 years.
The Dodgers are hopeful that Eric Gagne, baseball's best closer from 2002-04, and outfielder J.D. Drew will be ready to go in spring training.
Gagne underwent season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow in June. Drew, who signed a $55 million, five-year contract last winter, didn't play after breaking a wrist when he was hit by a pitch July 3.
The status of outfielder Milton Bradley remains uncertain. Bradley sustained a season-ending knee injury Aug. 23, a month after hurting a finger. He missed 87 games and had off-the-field problems, most notably a well-publicized feud with Kent.
Bradley is eligible for salary arbitration. The Dodgers must decide by Dec. 20 whether to offer a contract.
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