| By Jason A. Churchill |  | By 11-13-2012 |
In reviewing the Seattle Mariners current 40-man roster, there's no squeeze, there's no shortage of spots -- three available as of Tuesday -- and there's no lack of opportunity to create more space with unproven talent, such as Mauricio Robles or D.J. Mitchell.
It's well beyond time, however, to cut ties with veteran Chone Figgins.
The M's need 25 productive players on their roster and the chances Figgins can do that probably is closer to zero than any other number above that. He's lost two steps, doesn't square up pitches with consistency anymore and isn't good enough anywhere on the field to warrant playing time.
He's owed $8 million guaranteed for 2013, but he's also not eligible to be optioned to Triple-A and therefore takes up a 25-man roster spot, too. There does not appear to be a chance to save money in trade -- nobody wants Figgins for anything but FREE -- so cutting the cord with a clean break is necessary.
If the New York Mets can eat more than $21 million to cut loose Jason Bay, the Mariners can eat the $8 million it would take to rid themselves of Figgins. The team junked more than that when they released Milton Bradley a few years back.
Figgins stated earlier this offseason that he wants out of Seattle -- OK, Chone -- so perhaps the two sides can create a deal like the one Bay and the Mets did -- a buyout agreement.
The advantage of the agreement for Bay is that he got his release and the chance to bounce back with a change of scenery, will get all of his money (2013 salary, and buyout) and the Mets waived the provisional clause, assigning the Mets a reimbursement of the amount for which Bay signs with another team, meaning he actually could get a raise
The advantage for the Mets is that the monies will be paid over the next three years, rather than one, allowing them to spread out the cost like an NFL signing bonus, alleviating much of the burden of the contract.
No reason the M's and Figgins can't follow suit, and it's so far beyond time to say goodbye it's not even a bad joke anymore, it's just ridiculous he's still on the roster.
General manager Jack Zduriencik told me in the summer of 2011 that "it just didn't work out for us," so it's not like the team is trying to save face. Up until now, it's likely been about trying to get something out of the contract, and I suppose it's not completely out of the question that Figgins could be included in a trade for another bad contract, but the Mariners need production, not projects and wishing-well has-beens.
The decision may not be Jack's alone, since there's $8 million tied to it all, but the organization needs to move on. Figgins represents losing in Seattle and as a good friend of mine has preached for years, the losing culture is contagious.
Get him out, and get him out now before the Dustin Ackleys, Kyle Seagers and Jesus Monteros of the world catch that disease and can't find the cure until they are traded to another club.
figgins
Comments
The following 27 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: maqman on 11-13-2012 11:07:29 Amen to that! The only good thing Figgins can possibly do is to go away. |
| 2. By: Adam B. on 11-13-2012 12:05:56 My feeling is that the M's have approached Chone with a buyout agreement and he has simply called their bluff. So it's a game of chicken over whether Figgins accepts zero playing time and the enmity of the clubhouse in exchange for the full remainder of his paycheck, or if the Mariners will finally budge and simply give him his release. Either way I couldn't care less. If I were the M's I'd see if I couldn't "DL" or option him to the minors somehow. |
| 3. By: Adam B. on 11-13-2012 12:07:33 Nevermind my previous point. I guess Figgins would get the same amount of cash either way. |
| 4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-13-2012 12:10:57 He can refuse any optional assignment, so that is not an option. |
| 5. By: Rudolf on 11-13-2012 12:23:51 Punish the little bastard. |
| 6. By: Ungnome on 11-13-2012 13:05:50 "The Mariners need production, not projects and wishing-well has-beens." -2012 Mariners off-season in a nutshell. |
| 7. By: Paul Martin on 11-13-2012 13:15:01 Figgins will be gone before spring training. Could they be holding out hope that they make a trade for another team's bad contract????? After all, they were able to move Carlos Silva.... |
| 8. By: skyway park on 11-13-2012 13:33:11 Is anybody able to see the Rumor mill subjects Jason has been tweeting about for subscribers only? I keep refreshing page but am unable to. |
| 9. By: Paul Martin on 11-13-2012 15:54:47 ESPN reporting Miami looking to do a major salary dump (a la Red Sox) to Toronto. Jason, what are you hearing???? |
| 10. By: Mackie on 11-13-2012 17:31:14 Jason, you're preaching to the choir here, but it's still a great article. 8-) MLBTradeRumors says Miami is sending Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio to Toronto for Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis and five other players. Pretty amazing... |
| 11. By: Shawnuel on 11-13-2012 17:32:48 #8....No. I keep logging in and find nothing. The trade is a good old fashioned salary dump and, hopefully, will get Jeffrey Loria forced out of baseball. Here are the details: Blue Jays acquire SS Jose Reyes, RHP Josh Johnson, LHP Mark Buehrle, INF-OF Emilio Bonifacio, C John Buck and $4 million from the Marlins for SS Yunel Escobar, RHP Henderson Alvarez, SS Adeiny Hechvarria, LHP Justin Nicolino, OF Jake Marisnick, RHP Anthony DeSclafani and C Jeff Mathis. Marisnick and Nicolino are good prospects but it is telling that Toronto didn't have to pony up any of Lawrie, D'Arnaud, Sanchez or Gose. |
| 12. By: aerichner on 11-13-2012 18:06:09 #8 and #11, I cant find it on the site either. I just click on Jason's link on twitter, sends me here to sign in, and once I do that I click on Jason's link AGAIN and it takes me there. |
| 13. By: rotoenquire on 11-13-2012 19:19:04 There is still some speculation that Gose maybe part of the deal instead of Marisnick... But most are saying marisnick. Rotoworld or MLBTRADERUMORS has all the info. |
| 14. By: mjkleko on 11-13-2012 22:45:33 "...it's so far beyond time to say goodbye it's not even a bad joke anymore, it's just ridiculous he's still on the roster." The saddest part is that this could have been written a year ago and it would have been just as relevant. I am absolutely amazed he is still on a major league roster. I have an extremely difficult time seeing him catch on with a team after this abomination of a career in Seattle. For a front office that signed a guy like Wedge to come in and manage, a straight shootin' sonova' b who is fully invested in turning around the clubhouse culture and creating a winner, it's just unfathomably that this constant reminder of a true free agency blunder is allowed to remain on the 25. With the negative production (that's gotta be an oxymoron) Figgins represents, vacating that roster spot, even for a minor league scrub, is worth 8 million. Just thinking about him elicits this kind of gag in the back of my throat where its hard to actually come up with something to say. I end up just making a sound that symbolizes his time in Seattle perfectly. Ugh. |
| 15. By: Edman on 11-14-2012 03:19:49 Much ado about nothing. Figgins wasn't blocking anyone important last year. His being on the roster didn't prevent them from winning any more games. Don't care if he was on the roster or not. But he didn't hold the M's back. Probably did about as well as LRod would have, as far as impact on the club. This year is a different story. It's probably time to see if Triunfel can be a decent bench option. |
| 16. By: Mekias on 11-14-2012 05:59:09 It sure would be nice to no longer have dead money littering the Mariners dugout. When was the last time the M's went into a season without a significant part of their salary tied up in useless players? Honestly, I'm scared shitless that the next big free agent in Seattle will fall flat on their face and ruin us for another 5 years. |
| 17. By: Shawnuel on 11-14-2012 09:24:40 Torii Hunter signs 2 year deal with the Tigers. That is a crowded OF now. Might be worth it to check in on Andy Dirks or Brennan Bosch. Bosch, in particular, may be had for very little after last season. |
| 18. By: jgthompson21 on 11-14-2012 10:21:59 @17, There is a reason why Bosch didn't play down the stretch or in the playoffs. And don't the M's have enough Bosch's already on the roster? I mean, damn. Lets sign someone or trade for someone of worth. Saunders, Guti, Wells, Carp, Robinson, Thames are the same as Bosch |
| 19. By: Rudolf on 11-14-2012 11:20:29 Agreed ^. Saunders is worth a longer look as a full-time LF/CF, but Guti and Wells are 4th OF types and the rest are fodder. We MUST sign or acquire through trade an outfielder that projects as above league average, i.e. Swisher, Melky, Hamilton, Willingham, Gordon, etc. We have the money and we have the room so let's not mess around with bargain shopping. Same goes for the open slot in the rotation. If we fill these two holes with three or four win players we should take another step forward in 2013. By opening day 2014 every position should be filled with good players and help will be readily available in AAA if we need it. As for "overpaying" players, I say go for it. We can't be Jayson Werth stupid obviously, but we need to do what it takes to make sure Trayvon Robinson isn't getting 400 AB's in 2013. Look at Detroit: they just overpaid Torii Hunter. It's okay to overpay. It's okay... to overpay. |
| 20. By: Shawnuel on 11-14-2012 11:27:51 Sure #18 but tell me when Wells, Guti, Carp or Robinson have had the type of seasons Bosch did in 2010 and 2011? I see him as a bounce back type. Going into last season many people saw him as one of the prime contributors in that Detroit line-up. I'm not saying he is a future star, but considering his past production and the fact he could probably be traded for without giving up much, it sure might be worth it to kick the tires on him. |
| 21. By: dewey on 11-14-2012 12:00:15 Guti is better then all of them all around IF he could ever stay on the field you wonder how many more injurys and sicknesses can one guy have? Saunders is decent Carp and wells part time guys Travyon isnt a major league player for most teams. Thames alot of power might be worth a platoon him and Wells see what happens i bet you get 25 HR and 70 RBI while hitting 230-240 thats better then what we have gotten |
| 22. By: dewey on 11-14-2012 12:12:37 Also i think you could offer Miami the big 3 Franklin and 1 other top guy and they would say no its there only marketing guy left and they have made it clear he is untouchable a little like we have on Felix right our wrong its there team |
| 23. By: jgthompson21 on 11-14-2012 12:32:16 #20, You missed the point. Boesch is a 4th OF type of player. We have a roster of those. Saunders and Guti are the only ones worth starting, and saunders only because of last year. Guti can't stay healthy. But sinced you asked. Boesch has had only one good year out of three. 2011. He put up .283/.341/.799, 16 HR and 2.3 WAR. Guti last three healthy years 08-10, he put up: .248/.307/.690 8 HR and 2.6 WAR. .283/.339/.764 18 HR and 6.2 WAR. .245/.303/.667 12 HR and 1.8 WAR. Saunders only has one year as well. 2012: .247/.306/.738 19 HR and 2.1 WAR. The problem is Guti health. So, lets take a flyer on Boesch. Then you have an OF of Guti, Saunders, Boesch and Wells. IS that the type of OF you want to field next year? Guti could get hurt, Saunders could be a one year and back to old self, Wells isn't good against RHP. Boesch might not be good either. OR... They could all be good and we would have a good OF. I don't have alot of faith in all four having career years. |
| 24. By: KingFelix on 11-14-2012 13:31:38 I guess LoMo is on the block, maybe we move Paxson for LoMo and put him in LF then step up and get Hamiltion to play RF. Might score some runs with the following lineup: 2B Ackley CF Guti / Saunders RF Hamiltion DH Montero LF LoMo 3B Seager C Jaso 1B Smoak SS Ryan |
| 25. By: Shawnuel on 11-14-2012 14:09:36 #23 I definitely didn't miss your point. I just, perhaps mistakenly, valued Boesch's (thanks for the correct spelling)bat more than you do. You are right....he hasn't really had more than one good season but the second half of 2010 was pretty good and the last 3/4ths of 2011 was very good. I guess I am hypothesizing that he may need a change of scenery to get back where he was. I could be wrong, certainly. I totally agree that, if that is the case, we wouldn't want 4 4th OF types. |
| 26. By: Timberwolf on 11-14-2012 18:03:44 The idiots in Miami have given us hope that you actually can get real players in a trade. It sure doesn't seem that the guys they got in return were that special. |
| 27. By: Edman on 11-15-2012 03:05:54 For those who are upset with Seattle's management team, imagine how abandoned the Miami fans are. They throw in the towel after on season and start outsourcing to Canada. |
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