The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of many teams interested in Rafael Furcal. Yes, Furcal is still active. He might not be the most prominent shortstop in baseball anymore, but he is still seeking employment. Fans are probably wondering, "Why Furcal?!" Well, in reality, he would not be the worst option.
The Pirates weakest position was shortstop, that is, whenever Neil Walker decided to hit. Everywhere else, the Pirates appeared to be solid, momentarily fixing their issues in right field after trading for Marlon Byrd. Byrd is no longer in the squad after signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, but that is an issue that will eventually be addressed.
Jordy Mercer was the Pirates' best option at shortstop, in relation to hitting. He hit .285, posted an on-base percent of .336 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 103 games. Clinton Barmes could only hit .211 with a .249 OBP. Mercer is a Pirate until 2019, so the kid has a bright future, but having a guy like Furcal around does not hurt.
Furcal is a winner, having captured the championship with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2011. He was their last formidable shortstop before the Cardinals now acquired Jhonny Peralta. Furcal will not steal 40 bases like he did in his rookie season, those years are long gone, but he can provide a winning atmosphere in the Pirates clubhouse that has the talent to make postseason noise consistently.
Furcal is a product of the Atlanta Braves organization, where he played the first six years of his career. Furcal later joined the Los Angeles Dodgers and was traded to St. Louis where he won his first championship. Furcal has played in the majors from 2000-2012 and the only years he has not finished in the playoffs have been 2007 and 2010. Every other time, barring injury in 2001, Furcal has been part of a winning team.
He might not be of starter quality anymore, but Furcal can rub off his experience on the Pirates' youngsters. Remember how Furcal was a threat to steal bases? The Pirates have a couple of guys who can learn a few more things about how to read a pitcher and swipe a few bags. Not many teams consider base stealing a great way to consistently score runs, but the Pirates have the youth and speed that makes them dangerous on the base pads.
In his career, Furcal is a .281 hitter who averages around 10 home runs and 60 RBI per season. He has not stole a lot of bases as of late, but the little man possesses speed and a hell of an arm.
Signing Furcal is not so much about having him on the field or having him in the lineup everyday, but the vibe and leadership Furcal could provide could be intoxicating for a team like the Pirates.
