Former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre rips general manager Brian Cashman and third baseman Alex Rodriguez in an upcoming book, the New York Daily News and New York Post reported Sunday.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal finalized his three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Furcal agreed to terms of a contract worth at least $30 million with the Dodgers two days earlier, prompting the Atlanta Braves to claim the 31-year-old switch hitter reneged on a deal with them.

"Raffy has proven to be a very important player for us over the last three seasons," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a statement issued late Friday. "He sets a great example with his enthusiasm and passion for the game and his teammates."

Furcal hit .357 with five homers and 16 RBIs last season, but was limited to 36 games and 143 at-bats by back problems. He had back surgery July 3 and was sidelined until the season's final week, but started each of the Dodgers' eight postseason games, hitting .258 with one homer, three RBIs and nine runs scored.

"You can't overestimate Raffy's value to the team," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "He brings so much more to the table than just his ability to play the game. The players feed off his energy and I think he's an integral piece of the puzzle. I look forward to having that leadership in a Dodger uniform for the next several years."

Braves president John Schuerholz has vowed to never again do business with Furcal's agents, whom Schuerholz accused in a newspaper interview of conducting "despicable" dealings with the team.

Schuerholz and Braves general manager Frank Wren were quoted as saying the Wasserman Media Group, headed by Arn Tellem, negotiated dishonestly by taking the team's signed terms of agreement sheet for Furcal to the Dodgers. Wren said he believed the request by agent Paul Kinzer for a term sheet signed by the Braves late Monday meant an agreement had been reached.

"Having been in this business for 40-some years, I've never seen anybody treated like that," Schuerholz was quoted as saying in Friday's editions of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "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.

"It was disgusting and unprofessional. We're a proud organization, and we won't allow ourselves to be treated that way. I advised Arn Tellem that whatever players he represents, just scratch us off the list. Take the name of the Atlanta Braves off their speed dial. They can deal with the other 29 clubs, and we'll deal with the other hundred agents."

Schuerholz did not respond to a telephone message left Friday by The Associated Press.

The players' association is likely to maintain that a team cannot boycott players based on which agent they retain.

"I've been in touch with Arn Tellem," said Michael Weiner, the general counsel for the players' association. "I intend to be in touch next week with the commissioner's office to make sure the Braves are made aware of their obligations under the Basic Agreement."

Furcal gets $6.5 million next season, $8.5 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. The deal includes a $12 million team option for 2012, and the option would become guaranteed if he has 600 plate appearances in 2011. He also can earn an additional $1 million annually, including the option year, if he remains healthy.

Furcal also will get a $3 million payment by the end of the January following the contract's completion. He has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block deals to a specified number of teams.

Furcal began his big league career with the Braves, playing with them from 2000-05. He signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers following the 2005 season.

___

AP Sports Writer Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this report.

First, the Yankees cast Joe Torre aside. Then they decide to string Andy Pettitte along in the hopes that they can find someone better. Now, these two spurned Bronx icons who have so much in common are apparently talking about joining forces once again.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com is reporting that Pettitte has talked to Torre "more than once" about joining the Dodgers, according to "major-league sources." (I assume that means sources in Major League Baseball, and not big-time, super-terrific sources).

This seems to make sense on a number of levels. The Dodgers are facing a potential pitching shortage as Derek Lowe and Brad Penny are likely gone as free agents, Greg Maddux could retire, and Chad Billingsley is injured. (Was he washing Jeff Kent's truck?)

That leaves only Kiroki Kuroda and Clayton Kershaw. With plenty of competition for CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets not on their radar ( according to the L.A. Times), Pettitte seems an obvious fit.

And don't assume that Pettitte is above acting on spite either. As Rosenthal points out, Pettitte took less money to join the Astros in 2003 after the Yanks were slow to negotiate a new deal.

Pettitte was 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA in 204 innings last season, although he had a 5.35 ERA after the All-Star break.

RED SOX ADDING ANOTHER JAPANESE PITCHER?

The Boston Red Sox are apparently going to land Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa, according to MLB.com.

The story, which cited two Japanese news organizations, said that Tazawa would announce his decision by the beginning of next week. The Rangers, Braves, Mariners and Tigers were also believed to be among the teams in the chase.

The Red Sox already employ two prominent Japanese pitchers in starter Daisuke Matsuzaka and reliever Hideki Okajima.

The difference with those pitchers is that Tazawa, 22, in untested … even in the Japanese leagues. In 2008, he pitched in an amateur league, where he dominated. But it seems likely he would cut his teeth in the minor leagues in 2009.

For more on Tazawa, here is a pretty good breakdown from Sports Illustrated of his potential impact, or lack thereof.

MORE NEWS AND NOTES