Brushback Pitch

Furcal Steams Braves By Going Back To Dodgers

In a rare public blasting of an agency, Braves President John Schuerholz rips into Wasserman Media Group and lead agent Arn Tellem over the handling of the Rafael Furcal negotiations. Furcal signs with the Dodgers after the Braves thought they had reached a deal with the free agent, and Schuerholz says the team no longer will sign players repped by WMG. Schuerholz: "The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company -- ever. I told Arn Tellem that we can't trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I've never seen any (agency) act in such a despicable manner." Tellem says he plans to continue engaging the Braves regarding his players in the future. But the fact that a long-time exec like Schuerholz would be so frank in talking about another within the game’s inner circle is sure to be water-cooler talk around the league.

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