Brewers general manager Doug Melvin had lunch Monday with the agent for shortstop Rafael Furcal.

The Brewers have also had contact with Jose Reyes and are keeping in touch with Yuniesky Betancourt. Furcal, 34, batted .255/.316/.418 with seven home runs, four steals and 16 RBI in 50 games after joining the Cardinals in a late-July trade. Five of those homers came against Milwaukee.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal has already drawn interest from "a half dozen teams."

The Cardinals are aiming to re-sign Furcal to an incentive-laden contract this winter, but that plan might change if it requires a bidding war. The 34-year-old batted .255/.316/.418 with seven home runs, four stolen bases and 16 RBI in 50 games after joining St. Louis at the trade deadline. He has expressed interest in returning.

Cardinals declined Rafael Furcal's $12 million option for 2012.

In Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday, Rafael Furcal stranded five baserunners in a 1-for-5 effort.

It was a tough night for Furcal, who recorded the last out with runners on base in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings. His bat picked up this season after leaving the Dodgers. But in 56 playoff at-bats he's hitting a paltry .196/.237/.375.

The Cardinals have expressed mutual interest in re-signing Rafael Furcal after the season, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com.

Furcal, 33, is in the final installment of a three-year, $27 million contract. While the team has yet to open negotiations with Furcal's agent, GM John Mozeliak indicated they could find a way to retain him before he reaches free agency. The Cardinals acquired Furcal from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline for minor-league outfielder Alex Castellanos. The veteran shortstop hit .255/.316/.418 during the regular season with a .966 fielding percentage.

Rafael Furcal (hamstring) is in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS matchup with the Phillies Saturday.

Furcal left Monday's game with a strained left hamstring, but he made it through a full workout Friday without any issues. He's playing shortstop and hitting leadoff against Roy Halladay. Nick Punto will be around in case Furcal suffers a setback.

Rafael Furcal (hamstring) is expected to be on the roster for the NLDS against the Phillies.

Furcal left Monday's game with an injury to his left hamstring, but made it through a full workout Friday without any issues. "Everything is good," said Furcal. "I was running good, took groundballs, everything is fine." As of now, the veteran shortstop is more likely to start Saturday's Game 1 than teammate Matt Holliday.

Rafael Furcal (hamstring) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Astros.

As expected. Furcal left Monday's game with an injury to his left hamstring and while he could be ready if the Cardinals make the postseason, he will almost certainly need to miss the final two regular season games. Nick Punto will fill in Tuesday night.

Rafael Furcal (hamstring) is expected to miss the Cardinals' final two regular season games.

Furcal was lifted from Monday's game in the fifth inning after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring. It's not a major injury, but he'll need at least a couple of days to heal and the regular season schedule ends Wednesday. If the Cardinals are able to advance to the playoffs, the veteran shortstop might be ready for the NLDS. Nick Punto will likely fill in for now.

Rafael Furcal left Monday's game in the fifth inning with tightness in his left hamstring.

The severity of the injury isn't yet known, but we should learn more about his status following the game. He went 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout before being replaced by Nick Punto at shortstop.

Rafael Furcal broke a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the eight inning of a win over the Cubs Sunday.

He also had a single earlier in the game. The Cards trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, but a solo blast from Yadier Molina that inning tied it up before Furcal put them ahead for good. Furcal is batting just .254 but has provided an unexpected power burst since joining St. Louis, belting seven homers over 193 at-bats.

Rafael Furcal returned to action on Friday September 16.

Rafael Furcal (knee) is expected to play Friday.

Furcal was removed in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Pirates after suffering a mild strain of his left knee. It's not believed to be a serious injury.

Rafael Furcal left Wednesday's game against the Pirates in the fifth inning with a mild strain of his left knee.

Furcal suffered the injury on an awkward slide into second base on a stolen base attempt in the top of the fifth inning. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored before being replaced by Nick Punto at shortstop. Consider him day-to-day right now.

Rafael Furcal hit a solo home run in St. Louis' win over the Brewers on Wednesday.

The home run was Furcal's sixth in a Cardinals uniform. Bizarrely, five of them have come against the Brewers. Hitting just .215/.280/.326 this season, Furcal's offense has slipped dramatically, but he's still good enough with the glove that he shouldn't have too much trouble landing a new deal this winter as long as he's willing to accept that he might not be an everyday player in 2012.

Rafael Furcal told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Monday that he'd like to re-sign with the Cardinals.

Furcal, an impending free agent, has slugged five home runs in 32 games and played excellent defense at shortstop since joining up with the Cardinals in late July. "I love the city," the 33-year-old said Monday. "I'd want to play for St. Louis." With bigger fish to fry, the Cards are likely hoping that he will accept an incentives-driven one-year deal.

The Cardinals are hoping to sign shortstop Rafael Furcal before he hits free agency this winter.

Furcal has slugged five home runs in 29 games and provided a massive defensive upgrade at shortstop since arriving in St. Louis at the non-waiver trade deadline. "When you look at our club since he came to our team, he's just really changed the look of it," GM John Mozeliak said Sunday. "To try to find a way to get him back makes sense." The Cardinals are probably hoping the 33-year-old will accept an inexpensive one-year deal.

Rafael Furcal went 2-for-5 with a leadoff home run in St. Louis' 8-3 win over the Brewers on Wednesday.

The leadoff blast was the 28th of Furcal's 12-year career. Furcal has played sterling defense since arriving in St. Louis, but is hitting just .238 through his first 27 games, and has failed to steal a base. He is not an option in mixed leagues.

Rafael Furcal returned to action on Tuesday August 23.

Rafael Furcal returned to action on Monday August 22.