MLB Rumors and Notes

Oakland checking out Furcal’s medical history

Having set club records for use of the disabled list in each of the past two seasons, the Oakland A’s are leaving nothing to chance in their pursuit for free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, who missed all but 36 games of the 2008 regular season with a back injury. Paul Kinzer, Furcal’s agent, confirmed for MLB.com on Thursday morning that the A’s, who have used the DL 47 times since 2006, have examined Furcal’s medical reports. Kinzer did not say if the A’s have presented a formal contract offer for Furcal, who batted .357 with a .439 on-base percentage, five home runs and 16 RBIs with the Dodgers this season — the first time since 2001 that he played fewer than 138 games. Furcal, who made a reported $13 million in the final year of a three-year, $39 million contract and is said to be looking for a deal in the four-year, $40 million-plus range, played in all eight of Los Angeles’ postseason games, batting .333 (4-for-12) with a .467 OBP in a National League Division Series sweep of the Cubs before going 4-for-19 (.211) with a home run and three walks (.318 OBP) in the Dodgers’ NL Championship Series loss to the Phillies. Part of Furcal’s appeal to the A’s, who last week added slugger Matt Holliday via trade in their efforts to upgrade what was one of the worst offenses in the Majors last season, is that Furcal is an unranked free agent as a result of his limited playing time last season and thus would not force the team that signs him to surrender compensatory draft picks.

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Maryland-native Teixeira has interest in Nationals

It has been reported several times that the Washington Nationals have interest in signing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. MLB.com has learned that the feeling is mutual, according to a person familiar with Teixeira’s thinking. Teixeira is from Maryland and is thinking about the possibility of playing in Washington. He played baseball, basketball and soccer at Mt. St. Joseph’s High School in Baltimore. He set Maryland state records for career homers (29), RBIs (105) and runs (128). "[Maryland] is his home," said the source. "In some instances, I think players often tend to look at that in a different light than other franchises." The source didn’t go into details about Teixeira’s contract demands, but said the switch-hitting first baseman is looking for a contract that is better than Miguel Cabrera’s deal. The Tigers first baseman signed an eight-year, $153.3 million contract during Spring Training last season. The source pointed out that Teixeira is a complete player and is in better shape than Cabrera. Several calls were placed to Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras, but were not returned, and general manager Jim Bowden and team president Stan Kasten have declined to comment on the Nationals’ offseason plans.

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Cardinals add Trever Miller to bullpen

The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a deal with left-handed reliever Trever Miller, pending a physical that is scheduled for Thursday. According to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have a tentative agreement with Miller to be the team’s left-handed specialist. Miller went 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 68 relief appearances with the Rays this past season, but he had a 1.78 ERA against left-handed hitters and held them to a .209 batting average. In 10 big league seasons, including 519 appearances, Miller is 14-14 with a 4.43 ERA. The 35-year-old made $2 million last season, which includes his $400,000 buyout, and he’s joining his seventh big league team. Cardinals relievers were 11th in the National League last season with a 4.20 ERA. The club felt pressured to sign a lefty reliever once Jeremy Affeldt signed with the Giants and Will Ohman received an offer to remain in Atlanta, the report said. The club is expected to add at least one more left-hander to its bullpen.

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