http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIf Omar Minaya was smart, he would contact the Mariners’ Jack Zduriencik about trading bad contracts before the non-waiver trading deadline. I have to imagine that the Mariners would love to dump Chone Figgins after the fight in the dugout on Friday with manager Don Wakamatsu. Obviously, the Mets would love to unload their own bad contracts, i.e. Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.
The funny thing is that the money is pretty even. Castillo and Perez are owed a combined approximately $25 million over the next year and a half. Figgins is owed about $29 million through 2013 plus he has a vesting option for 2014 for $9 million if he gets 600 plate appearances in 2013. The money is fairly close.
The Mets would appear to be getting the better player in the deal but they’d be absorbing more money and potentially more risk if Figgins continues to be a problem. He’s also 32 years-old and his offensive numbers have fallen off a cliff this year. There’s the added risk that he’s in a severe performance decline and the Mets are stuck with a long-term contract for him.
I think it’s a nice “change of scenery” deal for both teams that the Mets had luck with last season when they moved Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur. I don’t think it would be as easy as the deal with the Braves. But the Mets would probably have to throw in a prospect to make it work.
The deal would get rid of a major headache for the Mariners with a long-term contract. For the Mets it would unload two players that have been a thorn in our sides for too long.
Take a look at Figgins’ career numbers below and let me know what you think.
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 24 | ANA | AL | 15 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .167 | .167 | .250 | .417 | 9 |
| 2003 | 25 | ANA | AL | 71 | 270 | 240 | 34 | 71 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 38 | .296 | .345 | .367 | .711 | 90 |
| 2004 | 26 | ANA | AL | 148 | 638 | 577 | 83 | 171 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 60 | 34 | 13 | 49 | 94 | .296 | .350 | .419 | .770 | 103 |
| 2005 | 27 | LAA | AL | 158 | 720 | 642 | 113 | 186 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 57 | 62 | 17 | 64 | 101 | .290 | .352 | .397 | .749 | 101 |
| 2006 | 28 | LAA | AL | 155 | 683 | 604 | 93 | 161 | 23 | 8 | 9 | 62 | 52 | 16 | 65 | 100 | .267 | .336 | .376 | .712 | 85 |
| 2007 | 29 | LAA | AL | 115 | 503 | 442 | 81 | 146 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 58 | 41 | 12 | 51 | 81 | .330 | .393 | .432 | .825 | 117 |
| 2008 | 30 | LAA | AL | 116 | 520 | 453 | 72 | 125 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 34 | 13 | 62 | 80 | .276 | .367 | .318 | .685 | 82 |
| 2009 | 31 | LAA | AL | 158 | 729 | 615 | 114 | 183 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 54 | 42 | 17 | 101 | 114 | .298 | .395 | .393 | .789 | 108 |
| 2010 | 32 | SEA | AL | 97 | 421 | 354 | 41 | 81 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 25 | 6 | 54 | 77 | .229 | .329 | .268 | .597 | 67 |
| 9 Seasons | 1033 | 4496 | 3939 | 637 | 1126 | 160 | 54 | 31 | 364 | 305 | 102 | 466 | 690 | .286 | .360 | .378 | .737 | 96 | |||
| 162 Game Avg. | 162 | 705 | 618 | 100 | 177 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 57 | 48 | 16 | 73 | 108 | .286 | .360 | .378 | .737 | 96 | |||
The Mets Report 
I like the thought and idea, coming from the Mariners side there would be only 1 problem. The Mariners are planning to not resign Jose Lopez and that would open a hole at 3B in 2011 and the tentative plan would be for Figgins to be moved there because the Mariners don't really have any standout third basemen in the minors. I like that Perez idea because the Mariners really need a solid #2 or #3 starter with the departure of Cliff Lee. Don't know if the Mariners want to take on another bad contract after the Bradley experience. How about this one? Milton Bradley and a PTBNL or cash for Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo? Great Article!
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I'd do this deal in a heartbeat, and I'd throw Frenchy in to boot if it helps! I just have a hard time believing Seattle would be that eager to get rid of a guy who for the most part has been looked at as a good guy.
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Sign me up. Just need to convince the Mariner's front office. I would think that the M's will give Figgins one more season to turn it around. That's a major drop off from the season prior. That's a Roberto Alomar drop off!
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I'm not so sure the Mariners wouldn't want to get rid of Figgins after that episode on Friday.
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