Dodgers Close With Cardinals on Trade for Rafael Furcal

It looks like the first Dodgers domino at the trade deadline is about to fall. According to Jayson Stark at ESPN the Dodgers and Cardinals ” were in serious negotiations Saturday on a trade that would send Furcal and cash to St. Louis.”

Also according to Stark:

"The Cardinals have been looking to upgrade at shortstop for some time, and the Dodgers have been listening to offers to move either Furcal or Jamey Carroll to give shortstop prospect Dee Gordon an opportunity to play in the final two months of the season.Because Furcal is a 10-year veteran who has spent more than five years with the Dodgers, he has to approve the trade before the deal becomes final. The Dodgers are expected to eat a significant portion of money still owed to Furcal, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.Furcal’s departure would mean the Dodgers will keep Carroll for his leadership and versatility, and make Gordon the every-day shortstop. The 33-year-old Furcal, who has battled injuries much of the last two years, would get an opportunity to take over at short for the Cardinals, who would likely use their current shortstop, Ryan Theriot, as a utility man if Furcal can stay healthy."

The key phrase in the comments above is that the Dodgers would eat a significant amount of the money still owed to Furcal. That means the Dodgers would get a better player in return. One guy I would love to see the Dodgers get is Allen Craig. Craig is currently on a rehab assignment recovering from a broken knee cap, and has been used exclusively as a DH.

Craig has hit for average and power at every stop, but has been the victim of a crowed Cardinals roster, yet he has played first base, second base, third base, as well as left and right field, in order to get at-bats. He’s 27 years old and a guy I think if given regular everyday at-bats will produce. Dodger fans will remember that Craig had 3 hits, including a homer, stole a base, and drove in 3 runs in his only start at Dodger Stadium this year.

Even more impressive is that his homer was off of Clayton Kershaw. But whether the Cardinals will be willing to part with Craig or not remains to be seen. He has also not committed an error, despite playing so many different positions, and could likely be slotted in as the Dodgers third baseman providing much needed lineup help for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

Furcal has been asked to waive his 10/5 trade rights according to a Tweet from Yahoo Sports Tim Brown. Ned Colletti was able to turn Milton Bradley into Andre Ethier, if he can somehow get Craig for Furcal then that would go a long way in him gaining my trust despite his laundry list of failed free-agent signings.

But as of right now the trade seems imminent according to multiple sources. Check out MLB Trade Rumors for all of the latest updates.