Furcal back in Cubs crosshairs?

The Cubs offseason laundry list of potential signings or trades is familiar and intriguing. Remember the Brian Robers rumors (how could you not)? A lefty power bat? Try Adam Dunn.

Jake Peavy would be a stretch, unless the Cubs get creative. Fukudome's contract really hurts them, as I've talked about before. More doable would be picking up Jeremy Hermida or Mike Jacobs, but neither of those lefty bats patrols center field, so how helpful can they be? And are they better options than an ancient Jim Edmonds? Maybe.

A Rafael Furcal deal seems most reasonable.

The Dodgers' switch-hitting, free agent shortstop led the NL in leadoff on-base percentage (.434 in 159 at-bats) but is injury-prone and snubbed the Cubs three years ago for an offer Hendry considered outrageous. But if Hendry lets bygones be bygones, he could do much worse than having Furcal atop his order. If Furcal came over, Ryan Theriot would move back to second and Mark DeRosa would become the regular right fielder.

This move gives the Cubs an instant catalyst, and keeps DeRosa in the lineup in place of Fukudome. The Cubs can transition their Japanese right fielder into a center field platoon with Reed Johnson, if they bring Johnson back. The move doesn't help the Cubs' need for a left-handed power bat, but Furcal won't be as pricey after his injury-ravaged season.

What's best? Furcal in the leadoff spot slips Soriano down in the order, perhaps all the way to fifth, which would be ideal.