Today Should Be Chone Figgins DFA Day
You’re going to see the Mariners do some stuff today, as we’re at the deadline to add players to the 40 man roster who would otherwise be eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Brandon Maurer is the only absolute lock to get added, but I’d expect the team to protect a few of their reliever-types, including Bobby LaFromboise, Brian Moran, Andrew Carraway, and Anthony Fernandez. These are all low upside guys who aren’t premium prospects, but LaFromboise, Moran, and Fernandez are all left-handed, so they could pretty easily slide into a non-contender’s bullpen in a situational role, and Carraway throws enough strikes to be someone’s mop-up guy in 2013. These are the kinds of guys who get taken in the Rule 5 draft, so adding them to the 40 man is probably the best bet to keep them in the organization.
Of course, if they want to add Maurer and those four pitchers, then they’re going to have to open up two spots on the 40 man roster, which currently sits at 37. And, of course, the obvious guy on the 40 man roster to get rid of is Chone Figgins. Of course, he’s been the obvious guy to get rid of for a long time, and the organization has refused to do it, but now his presence on the roster even one more day threatens to cost them a prospect. At some point, the Mariners are just going to have to swallow their pride and pay Figgins to go away. Losing a prospect in the Rule 5 draft in order to preserve the right to do it later is silly. There’s no reason for Figgins to be on the roster anymore, and now they need his spot. This is the easiest decision Jack has to make all winter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw a few others removed from the 40 man as well — in order to open up a few extra spots for guys like Vinnie Catricala or Danny Farquhar — but likely through minor trade rather than DFA. Both Mike Carp and Trayvon Robinson are out of options and unlikely to be part of the Mariners roster next year, so shipping them off for a non-roster prospect would also clear up roster spots for some additions. Keep in mind, the Mariners are going to have to clear more 40 man space if they sign a free agent, so these two are unlikely to make it through the winter, even if they aren’t traded today. Additionally, they could dump Francisco Martinez or Chance Ruffin without losing any sleep, though then they’d essentially be admitting that the Doug Fister trade was a bust, so there might be some face saving involved there as well.
Regardless, you’re going to see some stuff happen. A few guys are getting added. A few others are probably going away. Hopefully, one of those is Chone Figgins.
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17 Responses to “Today Should Be Chone Figgins DFA Day”
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I agree. I really, really agree. I’m just keeping the champaign chilled a little longer since we’ve thought this numerous times already only to have our hopes dashed.
Should be, but it won’t be.
My money is on DJ Mitchell and Scott Cousins getting the axe today. I don’t think Farquhar and Carraway will be protected.
Don’t forget the out-of-options 26-year-old Hector Noesi.
Hope you’re right Dave, but I won’t be surprised if you’re wrong. I’ll be really REALlLY happy if you’re correct.
I’m sure some people will complain about Carp, but he didn’t make a good case for himself when he got the chance last year. One very good month can only carry you for so long…
“. . . so there might be some face saving involved there as well.” I don’t disagree with your perception, however, face saving in personnel matters is for losers. Player evaluation isn’t an exact science—mistakes will be made. As a fan, I’d prefer that the team not try to hide what is obvious. With each personnel move, just try to improve.
One option that’s overlooked if the Mariners still aren’t ready to release Figgins is to DFA him and when no team claims him on waivers, outright him to the minors (nobody will claim him, because then they;d be responsible for his entire salary). That way, the M’s can still let him come to spring training and try and earn a job while at the same time being able to protect an additional minor league prospect.
last time the M’s made this sort of move was when they outrighted catcher Wiki Gonzalez, one of the awful players acquired in the Jeff Cirillo “salary dump that didn’t save any salary” some six years ago.
There’s really no excuse not to release Chone Figgins today, but there’s even less excuse not to outright him off the 40-man roster.
If they don’t do it today, sooner or later the stated reason will be that they need a utility infielder off the bench.
I wouldn’t be worried about Martinez getting scooped up if he were to come off the 40 man. They’ve apparently already given up on him as a third baseman. Hard to imagine a team claiming him and keeping him.
So, Robinson just got dealt for Robert Andino. Can’t say I’ll lose any sleep over that!
Bye Bye Trayvon. Hello Robert Andino.
… and the utility infielder off the bench – that Mariners 35 just referenced – just might be Robert Andino. Apparently, the Mariners just traded Trayvon Robinson for him.
Whatever it takes as long as it takes Figgins elsewhere.
Robert Andino. Oh boy!
^^It’s confirmed. Just a matter of time til’ Figgins goes ice fishing.
I like this Andino trade. He’s a very capable infield backup and will be an upgrade over what our options have been lately (Kawasaki, Wilson, Rodriguez, Woodward, Cedeno). Trayvon is a nice guy but a team can only have so many AAAA outfielders in the organization.
Getting rid of Figgins is a perfect example of addition by subtraction. Personally I’m hoping they hold onto Carp at least through spring training.
I’m not completely ready to give up on Carp either. Last spring a lot of us were at least in favor of giving him a shot to see what he could do, and in my mind last year was just an injury-fueled lost season. I still wonder if Smoak’s late season hot streak is going to end up being a curse in disguise.
It seems nothing happened today. One person was removed from the roster (Robinson) in trade for another person on the roster (Andino).
Did I miss something?
^Yeah…. the day isn’t over.
Ahh.. there it is.