Indians starter Corey Kluber will look to shut down the Twins tonight and end Cleveland's ten-game losing streak. Kluber will face an offense that ranks 12th in MLB in runs scored (though they do much of their hitting at home, as Dave Cameron noted today). In the meantime, here are today's links…
- The Mariners would have to absorb about $10MM in salary if they released Chone Figgins, but they should remove him from the roster anyway, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes.
- Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that he owes it to his teammates to focus on his game, rather than the trade chatter that often surrounds him. He might have to face another round of trade rumors this offseason, if the Diamondbacks decide they'll listen to trade offers for him again a few months from now.
- The Orioles are discussing trade possibilities regarding Endy Chavez, but they think he could stay in the organization, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (Twitter links). Instead of trading the recently-designated outfielder, the Orioles could demote him to Triple-A with the expectation of calling him up when rosters expand in September.
How about Chone Figgins and a good B+/A- prospect for Dan Uggla? Mariners get a guy who could be useful, Braves save some salary and get rid of an unneeded guy (Prado can play 2B- was an AS there, and Fransisco to 3B)
Would really free up money in 2015 when Heyward might start getting really expensive.
Figgins and a C prospect. Uggla isnt even worth a B prospect straight up.
Figgins has negative value, Uggla at least has marginal value (his OBP isn’t bad, and he’s does hustle)
Figgins has Zero value. Negative value would indicate he is at least negative. You give him to much credit. LOL
If the Braves offer that deal to the Mariners, I would rather the M’s just decline it. Uggla signed thru 2015, Figgins signed thru 2013 essentially (player option) and more costly. I would hope Jack Z doesn’t agree to that. Besides, we have Ackley at 2B. I would love if they just ate Figgins’ contract.
That would probably be the right call, but I thought M’s were terrible on offense, and Uggla can provide something- he’s a good character guy (you need that on a rebuilding team), and there’s a DH in the AL (is Jesus Montero good enough to be a full-time C?)
1) Uggla is way more useful than Figgins, who has not only lost his hitting ability, but also his batting eye. Plus, Figgins wasn’t a great defender to start with–better than Ugs, but not much.
2) I thought Prado was going to 3B with Chipper’s retirement.
First point is true, but Uggla shouldn’t be starting for the Braves- should be Reed Johnson in LF everyday right now, and Prado at 2B.
As for Prado next year, I really want to give Juan Fransisco a chance- he’s shown flashes of being something good, though it could blow up in your face. If it goes, there are options, since Prado is so versatile- even if it’s just Pastornicky at 2B and move Prado back to 3B.
Someone like Prado is just a great thing for any team to have- the Braves better keep him, and part of dumping Uggla is to save up Salary (Chone is at least somewhat cheaper) to keep Prado and Bourn.
I can buy an argument that we can get better salary relief for Uggla, because he does have some value. Chone would be about $3-4mil a year first two years and $11mil or so the last year (assuming we dump him)
Could save another $1.2mil by just non-tendering. Once you sign a player, it’s a sunk cost- Braves should have learned that from Derek Lowe- sometimes you get great value, sometimes they stink- you gotta do what is best, even if it means eating money.
im not all that familiar with the process, so my lack of how the system works could make this impossible. but why not send figgins to AAA? he would have to clear waivers (which i can only assume he would). and if someone claims him (which i doubt), they could have him and his contract for free, and seattle doesnt eat 10 million. the positives: if someones goes down, figgins versatility is still there, even though he is kind of blowing it right now. and playing in AAA could help him out…maybe.
If he had an option, they could slide him into AAA. But, now, in order to do that, you have to designate him for assignment. You have I think 10 days until the player is eligible for assignment. Even then, the player can reject that (I believe so; see DeWayne Wise), thus either forcing him back to the majors or to be released.
If you DFA a player, then he is being removed from the 40-man roster. Obviously, a player not on the 40-man cannot be on the 25-man.
According to Wikipedia (not the most official of sources, but I’m not writing a college paper), once a player accrues 5 years of MLB service he must give his permission to being sent to the minors, regardless of whether or not he has any “options” left. If the player declines, then the team must either reinstate him on the 25-man roster or release him outright.
seattle should try it. whats the worst that could happen? figgins stays on the 25 man roster, then they make the decision whether or not to cut him, which is where they are now. best case scenario, he accepts the assignment, goes to AAA, gets playing time, and maybe improves to batting +.200
I’m not sure they would send him to AAA and play him ahead of any of the players currently there. If they put him at 3B, he would take time from Vinnie Catricala and maybe Alex Liddi. Nick Franklin has been getting some at-bats at 2B when he isn’t playing SS (where Carlos Triunfel gets most of the playing time). Figgins might be able to get a few ABs as an outfielder, but I’m not sure what the point would be. They need to see if anybody will take him in a trade, and the M’s can cover his salary and at least get something in return… but he’s doing so poorly, that isn’t likely. They probably just need to release him and eat his salary.
Since Cleveland Indians designated both Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe for assignment, how about a three way trade sending Damon and a minor league player from the Cleveland Indians (plus a minor league player from the Diamondbacks) to the Seattle Mariners, Derek Lowe and Chone Figgins to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Justin Upton plus possibly pitcher Erasmo Ramirez to the Cleveland Indians?
why would Arizona want Figgins? Upton would bring more trade value than an over the hill pitcher (Lowe) and and overpriced infielder (Figgins).
Plus I dont see anyone giving anything up more than a single or double A player for Figgins.
If you took every positive aspect from Damon, Lowe, and Figgins and removed every negative aspect, that still wouldn’t be equal to 75% of Upton. You are seriously suggesting that the D-backs give up Upton (and maybe even more) for a pitcher who was DFAd and an player who deserves to be DFAd but hasn’t because his contract is too expensive.
One fluke season bought Jack Z a lot of rope, things need to start looking better soon in Seattle or he’s gotta go. He also needs to give up on guys like Figgins, Guti, Smoak, etc, they aren’t major league starters, let it go.
figgins for wells?
Justin Upton to the Mets for Murphy, Mejia, Wilmer Flores, and Duda??? Speaking like a true mets fan with the wishing but C’MON Sandy!!!! Please bring this guy to Queens!