Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal (neck) is aiming to return to Grapefruit League action on Wednesday.

Furcal was scratched from Monday’s game due to neck stiffness. But he went through a full workout Tuesday morning in Cardinals camp and should be back on the right track after Wednesday’s game. The 34-year-old will start at shortstop this year in St. Louis and makes for a decent option in NL-only fantasy leagues.

Rafael Furcal was scratched from Monday’s Grapefruit League game due to neck stiffness.

Neck injuries seem to be an epidemic this spring in Cardinals camp. Furcal is 2-for-5 with a solo home run so far in Grapefruit League play. He’s day-to-day.

Rafael Furcal will make his spring debut Thursday against the Red Sox.

The Cardinals have brought Furcal along slowly this spring due to general soreness and the veteran shortstop also wanted to get in better shape before taking the field. The 34-year-old is an obvious health risk, but should be useful in mixed fantasy leagues hitting in front of of Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman.

Rafael Furcal hopes to make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday.

There’s no rush to get Furcal into the lineup, especially after he was a bit limited over the winter after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. The 34-year-old returned to the Cardinals one a two-year, $14 million contract this winter after batting .231/.298/.348 with eight homers and a .646 OPS over 368 plate appearances in 2011. He projects as a top-20 shortstop in mixed fantasy leagues.

Cardinals re-signed SS Rafael Furcal to a two-year, contract.

The deal was reported on Saturday but has now become official. Furcal is expected to make $14 million the next two years after batting a disappointing .231/.298/.348 with eight homers and a .646 OPS over 368 plate appearances between the Dodgers and Cardinals this past season. The 34-year-old is still a good defensive shortstop and will help out on offense if he stays healthy, but a trip or two to the disabled list in 2012 is a pretty safe bet.

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.