By Brady Henderson

We didn't hear much from Chone Figgins after the Mariners' utility man lost his starting job in May and played sparingly for the rest of the season.

6986-figgins-chone large
Chone Figgins
That changed earlier this week when Figgins was quoted as saying he wantes out of Seattle, telling John Hickey of Sportspress Northwest, "I can't take two more years of this."

Mariners manager Eric Wedge was asked about Figgins' comments when he joined "Brock and Salk" on Thursday.

"He's handled himself as good as he can considering the tough situation he's in, so that doesn't surprise me," Wedge said.

Figgins has been the definition of a bust since signing a four-year, $36 million contract with the Mariners after an All-Star season with the Angels in 2009. He's hit just .227 in three seasons in Seattle, including a career-worst .181 in 2012.

Figgins' first two seasons in Seattle were so bad that there was some thought the Mariners would cut bait before the 2012 season. Instead, they gave Figgins a chance to return to his customary leadoff spot, and he was benched a little over a month into the season.

"We gave him another opportunity at the beginning of the year, it didn't work out and that was it; we couldn't take it any further," Wedge said. "We utilized him as we felt like we needed to, and he didn't play very much but showed up and did his work every day."

Figgins is signed through 2013 and his contract has a vesting option for the 2014 season.

"It's unfortunate it hasn't worked out here but we'll just have to see how we navigate things this winter," Wedge said.

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Comments (10)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    why is he still here?
    October 5, 2012 2:53 pm
    There's been no trade value in him since he arrived, so that's not at stake here. He should have been cut loose long before now. It's great that he has shown up and has done what's he's supposed to do, that's part of what he gets paid for. It's past time to sever this relationship. Figgins + Mariners = failure. That's too bad, but it is what it is. Let's move on.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stevil wrote...
    @Ernie
    October 7, 2012 5:22 pm
    You're wrong. There was still trade value after his first season here. That's what makes the situation worse! They had an opportunity to bail and passed on it. The Oakland A's were reported to be very interested in acquiring him. The rest of your comment is spot-on.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Louise Starin wrote...
    Figgins
    November 4, 2012 8:34 am
    He said he can't take two more years.. what the!! the bench isn't soft enough for him??? he has done nothing to help..the "M"s..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sfk360 wrote...
    I agree with Ernie
    October 5, 2012 3:08 pm
    No point in keeping him around, we've tried everything. Cut the loss.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bellinghamspence wrote...
    Wish I had that deal
    October 5, 2012 8:36 pm
    still gets paid for being crappy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SandlotSam wrote...
    Wow
    October 5, 2012 9:01 pm
    Figgins still doesn't get it. In his mind he was kidnapped from the Angels, forced to join the Mariners at gun point, and forced to play for no pay. Dude must think he's Patty Hearst.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Why wasn't DFA.....
    October 5, 2012 10:04 pm
    ...ever considered? Is swallowing $9 million just a matter of pride only?? This is why the FO can be more than just exasperating!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fluffycat wrote...
    Chone Figgins
    October 6, 2012 10:27 am
    ...is a worthless sack of sheeit. I hope he got a splinter in his ess from riding the pine all season. I went to spring training and he was as worthless then as he is now. Oh poor choonie; he's getting paid $9 million a year for doing NOTHING (even when he's playing he does nothing) and he says HE can't take it? Think of the poor fans who have to see this waste of time and money, and management who has to pay him. I hope they make him come to the park, suit up, and sit on the bench every day next season.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stevil wrote...
    @clevesside
    October 7, 2012 5:32 pm
    If he was cut before this season, they would have been eating $18mil, and run the risk of the vesting option kicking in if he picked up with another team and has 600 PA's in his final year (next year), which would cost the team another 9 million. I may be mistaken with how that option works, and if that's the case, someone feel free to correct me. But I believe I interpreted that correctly. It still doesn't justify keeping him around. It's a pretty safe bet he wont reach 600 PA's, even with the Astros. Point is, it's likely he was kept around in hope that he could put together a couple months of decent baseball and be traded, along with a little paranoia over a "what if?".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fluffycat wrote...
    Hi clevesside!
    October 8, 2012 8:22 am
    What's a PA? I can't understand your comment (which I would probably agree with) about that, so can you (or anyone) explain about PA's? I'd also like to add that I think Erik Wedge is a real class act in the way he responded to Chooone's complaining.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }








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