Chone will not be signing with the Cubs...

by CA Cub Fan on Dec 5, 2009 12:29 AM CST

Apparently the M's are forking over a lot of money for the 31 year old...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mariners-figgins&prov=ap&type=lgns

At least the fanposts suggesting the Cubs should sign him will stop. Now if only we can get the Brian Roberts and Mark DeRosa blow hards to go away.

Still waiting for the Bradley saga to end. Put us out of our misery Jimbo. At this point just do the deal for Burrell and write it off as a loss.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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it sounds like it's going to be a bad deal

I was open to 3, maybe 3 with an option. The AAV is okay, but there’s talk that it’s 4 with a vesting option. That’s bad, imo.

That said, from the rumors this offseason, it sounds like Jack Zduriencik is making a push sooner than later. There’s rumors connecting them to a bunch of arms and Jason Bay. It’s a risky move if he loses multiple picks, because the system is still relatively weak, but maybe Jack feels confident about his ability to draft and is trying to eat his cake too.

by toonsterwu on Dec 5, 2009 12:44 AM CST reply actions

The M's got a good deal.

Not a great one, but Figgins is a good bet to be worth more than that contract. He’s consistently been a 3-ish win player, and they’re paying him like a 2-win player. He also has some “hidden value” in that he’s a good baserunner.

Next up for the Mariners: a reasonable contract for Rich Harden, who should be really good with the spacious OF in Petco and the tremendous OF defense the Mariners have.

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Dec 5, 2009 1:27 AM CST reply actions

I think Figgins is overrated.

I wouldn’t have paid that much for him.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2009 7:20 AM CST up reply actions

What I am confused about,

is that the Mariners already have a lead-off type hitter in Ichiro. I can’t see him being very effective batting anywhere else in the lineup do to the amount of ground balls he hits. What the Mariners needed out of third base was someone who could hit for some power, something they are badly lacking right now.

by Seattle Cubs Fan on Dec 5, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

Well, they could bat Figgins ninth.

AL lineups often have a “second leadoff guy”.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

$9M for a #9 hitter?

Where do I sign?

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 5, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

the Mariners

also badly needed an upgrade in the 2 hole. Their OBP there was horrible, as Keith Law noted today. Also, Figgins will be an asset in run prevention. Now, I think they’ll try to target a big OF bat, and then follow that up with some pitching. I can understand the desire to be more competitive now, as it might help in convincing Felix to resign.

by toonsterwu on Dec 5, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

the aav actually isn't bad

somewhere in the 8-9 range, which, for the next 2-3 years, he’ll probably be worth all that, if not more.

If the rumors on 5 years is true, though, then that’s just … bad. I think Figgins will age fine, I think his on base skills will still be there, but I wouldn’t give an easily attainable 5 years to him, even if the the years allowed for a slightly lower AAV.

by toonsterwu on Dec 5, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

so??????????????????????

by NOMAR on Dec 5, 2009 8:27 AM CST reply actions

I am really shocked by the Polanco and Figgins deals

I’m not sure either is worth it.

by rlpete on Dec 5, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions

Chone Figgins is overrated and his best years are behind him

His style of ballplayer doesn’t age well. I never wanted him on the Cubs, so glad to see him off the market.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Dec 5, 2009 4:52 PM CST reply actions

Wow.

Something must be wrong. BLou and I are in 100% agreement.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

re: how he ages

Actually, many people, including scouts, feel that he’ll age well enough. He wasn’t heavily used while he was younger, and his OBP ability isn’t limited to his speed. He’s made huge strides in his walk rate. One opinion on how he might age comes from Dan Szymborski (does the ZIPS system) who argues that his broad range of skills, plus the fact that he hasn’t lost his speed yet, augurs well for his future.

As I’ve made the case before, I would’ve been fine giving him say, 3/30. I thought Figgins was easily the best option for the Cubs this offseason if the Cubs had money. The idea that Figgins would block someone just didn’t make that much sense to me due to his versatility. They didn’t have the money, and it seems that the Cubs are trying more to add a middle of the order bat. That said, I wouldn’t give Figgins what the current rumors are suggesting, 4/36 with a fairly easy option for 5. While the AAV is lower, the 5th year would be an absolute no for me.

by toonsterwu on Dec 5, 2009 6:56 PM CST up reply actions