The $13 million Shortstopgap

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-spw-dodgers4dec04,1,3257611.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

The signing of Rafael Furcal is perplexing, in that there seem to be more glaring holes on the Dodger squad, namely a 4th starting pitcher and a 3B. Some might construe this move as Colletti banking on the fact that Izturis can't come back whereas I see it the other way around. He is banking on Izturis to rebound from TJ surgery so he can be moved. At 3 mil a year for the next couple seasons, Izturis's percieved value is much higher than his actual value and can fetch the Dodgers a useful part or two at the trade deadline.

This deal pushes the estimated payroll at somewhere near $85 mil and what that actually means is anyone's guess. But for now, the McCheap and McBroke squackers (which never included me, btw) have been silenced.

It also presents the interesting scenario that Jon over at Dodger Thoughts nails on the head here: http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/295153.html#comments. In terms of what the Dodgers are getting in Furcal the player, a quick glance shows he has a career .757 OPS, with a .777 mark that ranked him 7th behind the likes of Bill Hall and Felipe Lopez last year (but ahead of Jimmy Rollins, who got a ridiculous deal at more years than Furcal).

Of course, he's marketable as a Dodger because...well...he plays SS and steals bases, which supposedly should instantly invoke memories of Maury Wills and make everyone feel good. I'm sure we'll even be fed stories about how Furcal worked with Wills in spring training working on bunting that should somehow give us all assurance that he has embraced the Dodger way (whatever that means nowadays).

What won't make him marketable are his DUI issues, which will be brushed aside because fans and management care primarily about one thing: Talent. This is what will keep Bradley in the fold (along with his relatively inexpensive contract), Choi at 1B and the Dodgers in contention until Izzy returns and ready to help the Dodgers...by being dealt.