Yardbarker: Chone Figgins

Figgins Flies North

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:19:19 -0500

The Mariners are on the verge of signing Chone Figgins to a four year deal worth $36 million. The Mariners and Figgins have reached a preliminary agreement on a $36 million, four-year contract pending a physical, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday night. The contract for the former Los Angeles Angels [...]

It’s Official

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:56:05 -0500

Assuming he passes the physical, Chone Figgins is now a Mariner. The deal is 4 years, $36 million dollars, with a vesting option for the 5th year, of which the details are still unclear. This means a few things for this Mariners club – we have our third baseman, we have approximately $9 million less [...]

Pre-Winter Meetings Buzz: Figgins, Non-Player Activity

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:36:50 -0500

NOTE: The Biz of Baseball will be reporting on the ground from Indianapolis for this year's Baseball Winter Meetings. From the media room to the Trade Show, we'll have you covered on The Biz of Baseball and via Twitter. The Baseball Winter Meetings kick off officially on Monday, but there's already a buzz brewing ahead of them. The first key free agent signing appears to be by the Seattle Mariners and third baseman Chone Figgins of the Angels. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com ...

M's, Chone Figgins Agree To Deal

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:09:00 -0500

And the offseason has officially begun. According to the Times, the Mariners and former Angel Chone Figgins have agreed to a four year deal worth 36 million, with a 9 million dollar vesting option for 2014. The deal will be announced upon the completion of a physical.

I like this deal a lot for the M's, even though it means that Beltre is almost certainly gone next year. Coming off a career year, I fully expected Chone Figgins to get more than this in FA. Figgins fills a need at third base, where he has played spectacularly for the Angels over the last two years, with a UZR of over 25 over the past two seasons. While his defense will not be that good going forward,he is still no slouch with the glove. In addition to that, should the Mariners find another third baseman at some point in the next four years, Chone could play of of several different positions. Figgins will be an asset with the bat too. While he has next to no power, Chone (pronounced "Shawn") has an uncanny ability to draw a walk. that, combined with his contact skills, switch-hitting ability, and plus speed make him a quality offensive player even without the ability to hit 25 home runs a year.

The best thing about this deal however is the money. For the next four or five years we are paying Chone Figgins like an average player, and even though he is unlikely to repeat his fantastic 2009 season, he will almost certainly be above average for the next few years. And while giving player on the wrong side of 30 long term contracts is not usually a good idea, Chone's speed and body type make him more likely to maintain his production. Even though we lose our first round pick as Chone was a type A free agent, the deal still a minor bargain for the Mariners. Welcome to Seattle, Chone.

What's That #18 Pick Worth?

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:56:37 -0500

What's the value of the 18th pick in the draft, which will be the shiny part of our two-part compensation for Chone Figgins (unless the Mariners sign another Type A free agent)? Cupla-three ways of looking at the question.The first is just observing that the Angels have only picked as high as #18 four times during the Mike Scioscia decade. Three of those four will be familiar:10 2000 Joe Torres12 2002 Joe Saunders12 2004 Jered Weaver13 2001 Casey KotchmanIf you wanna bracket that a bi...

Figgins to Seattle buzz warms stove before winter meetings

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:24:48 -0500

Did somebody just turn the hot stove on? After a few relatively cold weeks, the flame finally flickered a bit higher on Friday afternoon with the reported near-signing of Chone Figgins(notes) by Seattle. The third baseman would be the first of our top 10 free agents to sign and his four-year deal is said to be worth around $36 million.A mainstay in the Angels lineup since 2004, Figgins averaged an average line of .292/.365/.390 with 52 RBIs and 93 RBIs each season as a full-time player. He wo...

Mariners on the Verge of Signing Chone Figgins to a Four Year Deal

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:06:13 -0500

So this went from just a rumor, to apparently on the verge of being a done deal, over the course of like 18 hours. The word from Ken Rosenthal is that we’re on the verge of inking Figgins to a four year deal, somewhere in the $36 million range. My thoughts are going to have [...]

Chone Figgins to the Mariners?

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:51:00 -0500

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP 7 months ago: Los Angeles Angels' Chone Figgins, left, gets tangled with Seattle Mariners second baseman Jose Lopez in the first inning during a baseball game Thursday, April 16, 2009, in Seattle. Figgins, who singled earlier, was out but Howie Kendrick was safe at first on a fielder's choice. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Browse more photos » Lot of rumors ...

Figgins On Verge Of Signing With Mariners

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:38:00 -0500

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners are close to signing free agent Chone Figgins to a 4-year, $36 million deal.The two sides are "very close" to a deal, the source said — a deal that would be a serious blow to Figgins' previous team, the Angels.Any deal will be pending a physical.A spokesman for the Mariners said the team hasn't planned any annoucements regarding a free agent signing today. It's not believed that Figgins will take a physical before the weekend.Figg...

Seattle Mariners reportedly close to a deal for Chone Figgins

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:11:27 -0500

Ken Rosenthal says that the M's are on the verge of signing a 4 year, $36 million deal with Chone Figgins. I guess they'll put Figgins at third base. He's a nice player in his role, but given his age and abilities, he was seen as a prime candidate to get overpaid this offseason.

Sources: M's, Figgins on verge of $36M contract

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:45:43 -0500

The Mariners are on the verge of signing free-agent infielder Chone Figgins to a four-year contract in the $36 million range, according to a major-league source.

Chone Figgins and the Go-Go Mariners

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:40:00 -0500

Are the Mariners about to make the first big free agent signing of the winter? Take it away John Paul Morosi:"The Mariners have made progress toward a deal with free agent Chone Figgins and are clear frontrunners to sign the third baseman, multiple major league sources told FOXSports.com.The team and Figgins' representatives engaged in serious talks Thursday. One person briefed on the discussions said he wouldn't be surprised if the sides agreed to a deal of at least four years o...

Sources: Mariners Lead Race To Sign 3B Figgins

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:44:35 -0500

The Mariners are the clear frontrunners to sign free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins, multiple major league sources told FOXSports.com on Thursday night.

Polanco to Phils = 1 Less Figgins Suitor

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:27:14 -0500

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP Angels 3B Chone Figgins' asking price may be shrinking with the Placido Polanco signing to play 3B for the Philadelphia Phillies for 3 years, $18 Million. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Browse more photos » The dominoes may start falling a little faster now with today's news. Former Detroit Tigers infielder Placido Polanco has signed with the Phillies for 3 years, $...