AP
Braves general manager Frank Wren said Thursday the Braves have notified the baseball agency that represents Rafael Furcal that they intend never to do business with them again.
The Braves thought they had a deal earlier this week to bring the star shortstop back to Atlanta, where he began his career, before Furcal decided to stay with the Dodgers for virtually the same terms. Wren said that Braves president John Schuerholz called Arn Tellem, who heads the baseball division of the Wasserman Media Group, to inform Tellem that the Braves will no longer enter into negotiations with them regarding baseball clients.
"We don't have any intention of doing business with them, and they've been notified of that,'' Wren told SI.com this afternoon.
Reminded that Tellem's group of agents -- which includes well-established veterans such as Tom Reich, Adam Katz and Paul Kinzer -- is one of the biggest in baseball and represents many star players (including Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi and many more players), Wren responded, "When you can't trust who you're doing business with, you can't do business with them. It's plain and simple.''
Tellem reponded to the Braves' claims in a lengthy e-mail, saying: "There was never an agreement reached between Rafael Furcal and the Atlanta Braves. In fact, the Braves were fully aware that Furcal was not prepared to make a decision but had requested an opportunity to sleep on it, before deciding."
The Furcal negotiations were anything but simple, and ended with Furcal returning to the Dodgers for basically the same three-year, $30 million deal the Braves believe he'd agreed to with them.
As Wren tells it, he and Kinzer, Furcal's main rep, negotiated the terms over several calls Monday night, and after Kinzer told Wren that if he raised the base a little, they'd be able to make a deal, Wren did just that. Kinzer then told him "I think we're good,'' but still explained he had to take it to Furcal.
Sometime later, there was a message on Wren's voicemail with Kinzer saying, "We're good. Raffy's excited. Send me the term sheet.''
Wren sent the sheet. But Furcal never signed it, and according to Wren, Kinzer started "backpedaling.'' Pretty soon, Furcal's agency was talking to the Dodgers and within a day agreed to virtually the same deal with L.A.: $30 million over three years with a vesting option for a fourth year based on Furcal's health. In L.A.'s deal, Furcal needs 600 at-bats in 2011 for the fourth year to vest; Atlanta's deal was slightly better for Furcal, stipulating that he needed only 130 games to have it vest.
It's a little bit of a mystery why Furcal would rather go to L.A. after he was said to be excited to return to his roots in Atlanta. But Wren can't believe it's because they told Furcal they were envisioning him at second base instead of shortstop. Wren said they told Furcal that three weeks earlier, and that Furcal raised no objection and in fact seemed enthused about the prospect.
So where does this leave Wren and the Braves? They are looking for a pitcher and an outfielder after making an exception with Furcal, a player they loved. And as he concedes, they're out of luck on this deal. But they won't let this happen again.
"There's nothing enforceable,'' Wren said. "We just took his word. That doesn't count for much.''
Kim Cloutier
Deanna Clover
Men's Grand Slam All-Time Leaders
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Comments (96) Add A Comment
You can't blame the guy for wanting to play for a winner in LA instead of Hotlanta.
LA Riva
Pueblo West, CO
Total Comments (409)
This raises quite a problem for Peter Moylan, who is also represented by Tellem. Moylan can't be too happy about this. In any event, shady practices on behalf of the agent. I commend the Braves on taking a stand.
cnphilly
Total Comments (1)
And LA has won how many playoff games since 1988???
bigmj
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (6)
What exactly does that have to do with this?
rjsam77
Santa Monica, CA
Total Comments (91)
It was a bold move and well deserved, this has been one of the craziest free agent off seasons and I almost feel bad for Wren. All I know is something good has to come of all these slaps in the face!
braves_or_die
Lawrenceville, GA
Total Comments (2)
It was in response to this remark.
bigmj
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (6)
maybe furcal got a call from manny saying he'll be back in LA.
Maxtime
Los Angeles, CA
Total Comments (138)
He burned the Cubs the same way three years ago.
Chitownblues
Total Comments (792)
The dodgers went all the way to the NLCS last year with a very young team only losing to the eventual world series champions you tool. Any idiot can see that LA is clearly the more promising situation. Plus, why would any Latin player want to play in Georgia over Los Angeles.
rizzo74
Total Comments (40)
A deal's not a deal until the contract's signed. Don't count your chickens until they're hatched is the lesson learned here.
I'm not too sure that the agency is to blame. It's Furcal's choice ultimately.
badluck shleprock
Bakersfield , CA
Total Comments (172)
I assume he was noting the present situations of the teams.
rjsam77
Santa Monica, CA
Total Comments (91)
Right on bigmj
Lonnie
Total Comments (5)
So much for someone's word meaning something anymore!
braves_or_die
Lawrenceville, GA
Total Comments (2)
The Braves are mad at the Padres because they couldn't agree on a deal for Jake Peavy. The Braves are mad at Furcal's agent because they didn't finalize a deal. Who's next?
Midwest Chuck
Rock Island , IL
Total Comments (1)
Atlanta didn't even have a countersigned term sheet (let alone a formal contract), hadn't heard anything from Furcal directly and there is no indication that Atlanta was prevented from pursuing any other transaction because of its negotiations with Furcal. I can understand Atlanta's management being disappointed that Furcal took what looks to be the same deal from another organization, but you take your medicine and move on. To put pride and ego ahead of what is best for the organization and its fans is, at best, bad for business and, frankly, rather childish.
letsplay2
Total Comments (28)
"Plus, why would any Latin player want to play in Georgia over Los Angeles."
Are you really this stupid?
SuckIt
Centerville , GA
Total Comments (1)
Congratulations on your one year of mediocrity (84-78) in the crappy NL West...looks like a dynasty your creating there.
bigmj
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (6)
"including Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi "
That's the best list of names you could write up?
hyperRevue
Total Comments (11449)
Hilarious. I can't stand the Dodgers or the Braves but that comment is nuts. That would almost be like me saying the same as a Cubs fan. One pretty good season that ends in severe playoff disapointment doesn't trump the last 15 years of being a class, winning organization like the Braves. Throw the last two seasons out and only the Yankees are in the same neighborhood of consistency as the Braves. If the Dodgers remain relevent for the next 5 years while the Braves flounder, THEN you can talk to me about what kind of winner LA is.
Cheers!
Bayard , NM
Total Comments (81)
It would be great if Atlanta would actually stick to their word on this and never do business with this agency again, but we all know that is not going to happen. I can't believe after the way they Red Sox got hosed by Scott Boras on J.D. Drew and then again with the Manny circus that they would ever do business with him again, but they are about to sign a decent (not great) 1st baseman to the second biggest contract in baseball history.
mishagothe
New London , CT
Total Comments (300)
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