:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3655961/gyi0060105516.0.jpg)
Much-maligned and sparingly used infielder Chone Figgins was designated for assignment, the team announced on Tuesday.
OFFICIAL: #Mariners designate INF Chone Figgins for assignment.
— MLB (@MLB) November 21, 2012
Figgins was a long-expected cut as the Mariners needed to trim their roster down to 40 men. The Mariners now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Figgins to the minors. Figgins can refuse the minor-league assignment and become a free agent.
Figgins was due to make $8.5 million this year, and the one remaining reason why he would still be a Mariner is because the team wouldn't want to eat the remainder of his contract. But after three years of minimal production from the high-priced free agent acquisition, the Mariners felt it was time to cut ties.
Figgins arrived with the Mariners in 2010 after signing a four-year deal worth close to $36 million. The experiment of trying to combine Figgins, who batted lead-off, with Ichiro proceeded to fail miserably quite quickly. In 2010, Figgins posted career lows in batting average and slugging percentage, and somehow got worse each year as the Mariners played him more sparingly.
Zduriencik spoke to Figgins: "He understands that it's time to turn the page and move forward.''
— Geoff Baker (@gbakermariners) November 21, 2012
The Mariners also DFA'd recently acquired outfielder Scott Cousins to get down to 40 men.