Furcal to Dodgers

Sources say Rafeal Furcal has agreed to a 3-year, $40 million deal to play for the Dodgers. The $13 million plus per year was surprising but what I really found interesting from the story was these three tidbits:

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.

Does that mean that Jason Phillips will be trade bait? What about Hee-Seop Choi? His lefty bat would be a nice platoon at first for the Red Sox with Kevin Youkilis.

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.

Does this mean that Colletti would be interested in either Manny Ramirez or Johnny Damon? Furcal is a leadoff hitter - so that diminishes Johnny Damon's value to the Dodgers and what the Dodgers really lacked last season was some pop in the lineup. My suggestion that the Dodgers would be a trade partner for the Sox for Manny is starting to take shape.

Bradley is eligible for salary arbitration. The Dodgers must decide by Dec. 20 whether to offer a contract.

Of all the salary arbitration cases - this might be the most tricky. The Dodgers really don't want him back - so if they offer Bradley arbitration they run the risk he'll accept. Other teams may be interested in taking a chance on Bradley but not if it will cost them a draft pick. This will be interesting to watch.