Chone Figgins has been a colossal bust with the Mariners, but manager Eric Wedge told reporters (including Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times) that parting ways with the infielder is "not even a consideration" right now. Seattle optioned Casper Wells to Triple-A rather than cut ties with Figgins when Miguel Olivo came off the disabled list today.
"Not right now,'' said the manager. "Right now, that's not even an option for us. With Chone, as you all know — we were very open with you (media) guys about that — we wanted to give him every opportunity to get back on track. We feel like we did that, leading him off, switching his role a little bit, and it didn't work out."
Figgins, 34, has hit just .230/.303/.286 in over 1,100 plate appearances with the Mariners since signing his four-year, $36MM contract prior to 2010. Seattle has indicated a willingness to eat part of that contract to facilitate a trade, but so far they've found no takers. Figgins still offers a lot of versatility but is owed approximately $15MM through next season.
How ’bout now?
It’s pathetic to keep this guy on the roster, just let him go and quit being so stubborn. Jack Z is too scared to admit a loss, still waiting for Guti to rebound as well. Not a tear will be shed with Figgins’ departure.
Jason Bay for Chone Figgins- which side has to include money/minor leaguers to get it done?
Figgins is owed about $13 million through 2013 while Bay is owed about $29 million. Considering both are useless. the Mets would have to chip in.
Eric Wedge rattled off a list of great reasons to release Chone Figgins. He presented them as reasons to KEEP Chone Figgins. Fire Eric Wedge.
Last year, I had thought that Eric Wedge had somewhat of a brain, even with all the inconsistent lineup changes and what not. Now, optioning Well to AAA instead of outrighting Figgins? The man has lost his mind.
Yeah, I had to re-check the headline to make sure they weren’t going to cut him after reading that quote. Is that some strange form of subterfuge?
Delmon Young for Chone Figgins and cash. His numbers are an improvement over what the Tigers have featured at 2B this season, he’d be a perfect 9 hole fit even at .310 OBP plus he can play the OF in a pinch.
While DY might give Seattle a little I better start producing so I can get another contract performance numbers, and have his money off their books for next season.
Its a win win.
.310 OBP? Figgins?
It wasn’t the greatest contract when they handed it out, and Figgins was overrated mostly on the backs of a couple good seasons [and one great one], but it’s still shocking to see just how bad he’s really been. A .286 SLG? Seriously, Chone?
If figgins was a rookie he would have been sent back to AA by now.
Chone Figgins needs to be Designated for Assignment before trading him to another team w/ minor league pitcher James Paxton like the Philadelphia Phillies for Shane Victorino as those players can handle starting fresh again w/ respective new teams. Figgins would be better off as pinch hitter/runner in the National League where he can help a team like the Phillies to help out late in the ball game.
Wait, Wait, Wait. Let me get this straight, did i just read that correctly? Paxton and Figgins to the Phillies for Victorino? That has to be one of the worst thought out trade scenarios, for both teams.
Why would the Phillies, who are struggling on offense without Utley and Howard, trade their best offensive player (arguably) when they are in a win now mode, and will be getting Howard and Utley back here shortly? And if they would trade him, they would be going after a major upgrade(+) that can help them at the major league level win ball games. Not a bench player (Figgins) and a pitcher that is 1-2 years away.
Why would the Mariners trade a top pitching prospect, and a big part of their future rotation, just to dump Figgins, and receive half a year of Victorino (FA in 2013), who would most certainly not stay with a rebuilding Mariners team. All this, when they will not contend this year, and at the earliest have their competitive window open in 2014 (maybe 13)? Bad trade is bad man. This was the type of move Bavasi would have done, and look where it took the Mariners.
The Mariners have no business trading their young assets this year in exchange for at best a 2 win upgrade. If you want to get rid of Figgins, you just get rid of him. You will pay his contract regardless, he is redundant on the team, and nobody will pay anything more than the pro rated minimum for his services, and nobody is going to give up anything of value.
The reason he was not cut when Olivo came back is because he will (should) be cut when Guti comes back. This gives them more flexibility on the field until that happens.
Paxton for one-half season of Victorino, when Victorino won’t make us a playoff team? Be real.
Huge mistake. Figgins has no future value to the organization, and Casper Wells does. Wells should be getting far more regular at-bats from left field. Figgins, well, should walk off the nearest plank with an anchor around an ankle and never be seen by Mariners fans again.
I can’t help but wonder if it’s the Lincoln/Armstrong thing here, not Zduriencik.
Nate McLouth would be other options to help the Mariners to be a mediocre team this season in spite not making the playoffs after he was designated for Assignment. Mclouth for either Brendan Ryan or Chone Figgins and either Shawn Kelley or Erasmo Ramirez may make more sense for both teams to help the Pittsburgh Pirates, esp. as inch runner for Figgns in late innings.