by Ken Rosenthal

Paul Kinzer, Furcal's agent, indicated Wednesday that Furcal would likely make a decision by day's end.

The Dodgers were "in conversation" with Kinzer on Tuesday, with one source saying, "They are talking big-time."

Earlier Tuesday, it appeared that Furcal had all but decided to go back to the Braves, the team for whom he played his first six MLB seasons. Atlanta offered a three-year deal worth approximately $30 million, according to major-league sources, and included a vesting option for a fourth year that likely will push the potential value to $40 million. Furcal would still have to pass a physical before any deal can be approved.

The A's are believed to have made the high offer for Furcal — four years guaranteed in the $40 million range, according to major-league sources.

The Braves, however, made a late, rapid push for Furcal, who owns homes in Atlanta and Los Angeles and preferred to rejoin the Braves or stay with the Dodgers.

One rival executive said Monday night, "he will do whatever he can not to go to Oakland," citing Furcal's preference to be with one of his prior teams.

Furcal, 31, left the Braves for the Dodgers after the 2005 season, signing a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract. The Dodgers have been reluctant to re-sign him long-term due to medical concerns.

If Furcal returned to Atlanta, he would give the Braves stunning flexibility in their middle infield, perhaps enabling them to revive their trade talks for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy.

Furcal could switch to second base, a position he has played in winter ball, if the Braves moved Kelly Johnson to left field or trade Johnson for an outfielder or pitching help.

Or, Furcal could remain at shortstop if the Braves traded Yunel Escobar, either as part of a Peavy package or in a separate deal.

The availability of Peavy, however, is unclear, and Braves officials have not even discussed him in recent weeks, one source said.

"We are no longer actively pursuing any trade for Jake, which is not to say someone won't approach us," Padres president Sandy Alderson told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday.

"We said from the very beginning ... that we would not make a trade unless it made baseball sense."

The Braves began the offseason intent on landing two quality starting pitchers. They acquired right-hander Javier Vazquez from the White Sox, but failed in attempts to land Peavy and sign free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett.

The addition of Furcal could lead the Braves to continue their pursuits of less prominent free-agent pitchers such as left-hander Randy Wolf and Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami. But it also would give them the option to explore bigger deals.

Kinzer said last week that the A's, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Royals were the four finalists for Furcal. The Blue Jays and Royals, however, dropped out due to economic reasons, according to major-league sources. The Dodgers apparently were not willing to offer Furcal more than two years at the time.

Orlando Cabrera would become the top shortstop on the free-agent market once Furcal signs. If Furcal chooses Atlanta, Cabrera would become a prime candidate for the Dodgers.

Other options for the Dodgers would include re-signing Angel Berroa, a lesser free agent, or trading for the Pirates' Jack Wilson.