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Cards close to deal for Dodgers' Furcal

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/68...al-source-says

The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers were in serious negotiations Saturday on a trade that would send shortstop Rafael Furcal and cash to St. Louis, according to a source close to the situation.

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.