AP Sources: Furcal Agrees To Terms With Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — Rafael Furcal will try to make his comeback from elbow surgery with the Miami Marlins.
The free-agent infielder and the Marlins agreed to terms on a contract, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday. Both people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been finalized.
In addition, one of the people said, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia passed his physical, and his $21 million, three-year contract with Miami was finalized.
The 36-year-old Furcal, a three-time All-Star, sat out this season after undergoing elbow ligament-replacement surgery in March. He made the NL All-Star team as a starter at shortstop in 2012, when he batted .264 in 121 games for the Cardinals.
Furcal is a 13-year veteran and a career .281 hitter. He's expected to compete for a starting job at second base, even though he has played only 36 games at the position, most recently in 2004.
The Marlins finished last in the majors in 2013 in runs and hitting, and their second basemen combined to bat only .235. Donovan Solano started the most games there and batted .249.
With the winter meetings next week, the Marlins remain in the market for help at third base.
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