Apparently, Mariners utility player Chone Figgins doesn't want to be with the team anymore. He told John Hickey of SportsPressNW.com that "I can't take 2 more years of this."
Well Chone, I'm sure the feeling is mutual from your employers. They've paid you $28 million over the last three seasons (which includes a $2 million signing bonus), and you've responded by contributing a .585 OPS in 308 games with the Mariners over those three seasons, including playing in half of the season's games in 2011 and less than half in 2012. In terms of fWAR, Figgins has actually contributed negative value to the Mariners, costing Seattle nearly a win.
The thing about Figgins is that his contract was a massive overpay by the Mariners. He was signed after his age 31 season with the Angels, and as a guy who has really no power and relies on his speed and defense, what in the hell did they expect to happen? His 2009 season with the Angels was a career year, with Figgins' 6.9 fWAR in 2009 setting a career highi mark for him.
The majority of Figgins' defensive value came at third base, which the Mariners have no need for anymore with the presence of the much younger Kyle Seager. He was awful defensively at second base in 2010, and now with Dustin Ackley in the majors, there's no need for him there. And as for the outfield…well, his bat doesn't profile well there at all.
So what will both parties do? Figgins' has a vesting option for 2014 that is based on plate appearances in 2013 that surely won't vest. It might be in Seattle's best interest to just cut bait, eat the $8 million he's due in 2013, and move on. It's not as if Seattle has a ton of payroll lined up for next season after trading Ichiro and likely declining Miguel Olivo's option. They're not going to win with Figgins, and they're not going to win without him…but if he's not on the roster, maybe a young player can get his plate appearances and potentially help them win in the future. There's no reason to keep burning plate appearances on a guy who doesn't want to be with the club, is being paid way more than he's worth, and isn't helping you in any conceivable way on or off the field.
