Reportedly the Mariners and Braves discussed a deal involving Chone Figgins before the trading deadline. Bowman writes that the Braves weren’t prepared to take on the Leary, Ga. native’s contract, which guarantees him $26 million through 2013, but what if the M’s were willing to accept Derek Lowe, due $30 mil over the next two years, in return?
Figgins’ first season in the northwest has been a disaster, and a few weeks ago he nearly came to blows with his manager. The 32-year-old former Angel is batting .238, nearly 50 points below his career average, with a .334 OBP, 26 points beneath his career mark. He’s still a threat on the basepaths, with 27 steals in 35 attempts. And despite being moved to second base by the M’s, Figgins had the majors’ third best UZR, whatever the hell that is, as a third baseman in 2009.
I expect Figgins will bounce back next year, and his confrontation with Don Wakamatsu also seems to be an aberration. If Seattle would take Lowe (who came up in the Mariners organization before being traded, along with Jason Varitek, for Heathcliff Slocumb), acquiring Figgins would be well worth the risk. He’d bring speed and defense and Lowe’s departure would open up a spot in the 2011 rotation for Mike Minor.
Hell, I’d do that deal tomorrow, as no team’s likely to claim Figgins or Lowe on waivers.
Release the Kraken!!
Absolutely. I would much rather have Figgins for the next three years than Lowe for the next two, with less money committed at that. Lowe is what he is… but can we really trust him to start a meaningful playoff game for the home team? The guy who began the ’08 season by putting up zeros against the defending WS champs is an afterthought now. Acquiring Figgins would give the team a direction to go in should Chipper hang ‘em up at season’s end, and while the left side of the infield would have some age (Figgins/Gonzalez), the defense is sound and it would also give the team a formidable leadoff man. The notion of having Figgins and Prado atop the lineup is intriguing, and a rotation of Hudson, Jurrjens, Hanson, Medlen, Minor would seemingly be a plus as well.
Agreed. I was pretty geeked when Figgins and the Braves were mentioned, as the trade deadline approached. No way Figgins’ career numbers are the aberration. Clearly this year is. The guy is a playmaker, and would be a great addition.
Yeah but we need some power from 3rd base. We aren’t getting it anywhere else. Frankly, from the way he has played against us, Wes Helms would be an improvement.
Jimi Hendrix was from Seattle. Maybe Figgins has gotten Experienced! I imagine blowing up at his manager had more to do with his offensive woes than anything else.
Ask Adrian Beltre how leaving Seattle can help the numbers. I like this deal, but agree with Jack that our problem isn’t guys who get on, it’s someone to drive them in/out of the park.
First game winning play he makes, use the headline “Figgins brings Spanish Castle Magic with him!”
He makes his living with his legs and he’s 32, which gives one pause. He doesn’t play CF well, which limits his usefulness for this season. As Jack says, we need an RBI guy and that’s not Figgins. But Christ, getting rid of Lowe would make this a GREAT trade. Throw in the Melkman, too.
But why would Seattle want Lowe? I suspect they could trade Figgins for some prospects.
Richard Speck had a better curve ball.
Charlesdad,
Way to choke on your own barf on the parade.
Is this the first Richard Speck reference on the Office? It must be…
Too bad there aren’t any ex-Braves named Gacy or Bundy.
As for Figgins, I’d be willing to throw in a prospect (though not Freeman or one of the four pitchers).
Fortunately we didn’t trade for Lee Harvey Oswalt.
Yes, but we did have Vic “Dean” Corll, who was a serial killer, unlike Richard Speck, who was merely a mass murderer.