Rafael Furcal

The Cardinals have signed Rafael Furcal to a two-year deal worth roughly $14 million, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

The deal is pending a physical. Furcal, 34, batted .231/.298/.348 with eight homers and a .646 OPS over 368 plate appearances between the Dodgers and Cardinals this past season. After recently undergoing an appendectomy, he is fully expected to be ready for the start of spring training. His signing likely rules out another possible destination for Jimmy Rollins.

The Cardinals are ”making progress” with free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal.

Furcal is seeking a long-term contract and reportedly wants $16 million over two years, though it’s not currently known whether the Cardinals are willing to meet his asking price. If they are unable to re-sign him, the Tigers and Giants are thought to be interested, as well.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Rafael Furcal is unlikely to sign with the Brewers.

Furcal is seeking a multi-year contract and has also fielded interest from the Cardinals, Giants and Tigers. While the Brewers have explored various alternatives in the free agent market, Haudricourt suspects that they may now settle on Yuniesky Betancourt as their shortstop in 2012.

Rafael Furcal underwent an appendectomy last week.

Furcal, a free agent, is thought to be seeking a multi-year deal and has already drawn interest from the Brewers, Tigers and Giants. The Cardinals are also expected to attempt to re-sign the 34-year-old shortstop.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal is still looking for a multi-year deal this offseason.

It’s no surprise. At 34 and his health always a question mark, Furcal is a risk on a multi-year contract, but with multiple teams showing interest, someone will surely be willing to give him two years. The Cardinals would like to re-sign him, and the Brewers, Tigers and Giants are thought to be interested, as well.

The Cardinals did not offer arbitration to Rafael Furcal.

Furcal would stand to make $10 million via salary arbitration, so the Cards avoided the risk and set him free. They’re in the process of attempting to re-sign the 34-year-old shortstop to a one-year contract, but he reportedly wants $16 million over two years.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Pirates are “looking at” free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

The Pirates are said to be considering a host of options at shortstop, though not big-ticket items like Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins. The Cardinals and Brewers have also been mentioned as potential fits for Furcal, who is reportedly seeking a two-year, $16 million contract. The 34-year-old batted .231/.298/.348 over 369 plate appearances this season between Los Angeles and St. Louis.

According to the Denver Post’s Troy Renck, Rafael Furcal is seeking a two-year, $16 million deal.

The Tigers, Blue Jays, Brewers and Cardinals are said to be interested, but the Rockies don’t like the asking price and have dropped out. Furcal, 34, batted .255/.316/.418 with seven homers and 16 RBI in 50 games this year after joining St. Louis. He also showed good defensive range.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com hears that the Tigers, Blue Jays and Rockies like Rafael Furcal as a potential second baseman.

That may be the case, but the 34-year-old Furcal hasn’t played second base regularly since his rookie season in 2000 and is drawing enough interest that he should be able to find a starting shortstop job. The Cardinals and Brewers are the two most logical fits right now.