Rafael Furcal visited the Bay Area on a recruiting trip, but he focused on Oakland, not San Francisco.
If he's interested in the Giants -- as his agent says he is -- then why didn't he stop by the Giants' park and mingle with his prospective employers? Agent Paul Kinzer said Furcal, 31, a long-time National Leaguer, already was familiar with the Giants and preferred to spend his time at the Oakland Coliseum and with general manager Billy Beane and manager Bob Geren.
But Kinzer said the Giants weren't out of the running. They've been pursuing Furcal to be their shortstop and leadoff hitter, though he could command four years topping $40 million.
The Giants lack experience in the middle infield, and a veteran such as Furcal or Edgar Renteria at shortstop would make for a possible Emmanuel Burriss-Kevin Frandsen competition at second base, though Frandsen could also play third base.
Furcal is coming off a three-year, $39 million contract with the Dodgers, who aren't expected to re-sign him. Omar Vizquel, the Giants' primary shortstop the past three seasons, wasn't welcomed back.
