Chone Figgins Signs with Seattle Mariners with Four Year Contract

Chone Figgins signed with the Seattle Mariners Friday night. It's surprising that Chone Figgins signed with the Seattle Mariners, but it could end up being one of those great decisions on both fronts. The Seattle Mariners have been looking for a really good #2 hitter, and putting someone like Chone Figgins right behind Ichiro Suzuki in their 2010 line-up could drive opponents crazy. The top of the Seattle Mariners line-up could rival the best in baseball when the 2010 season gets started, as the combination of Ichiro and Figgins at the top could lead to a great "table-setting" for the rest of the line-up.

The contract between Chone Figgins and the Seattle Mariners is reported to be $36 million over four years. It also appears that there is an option in the contract that could give the deal a fifth year, and push its total value to $45 million over that duration. This contract is of course pending on the routine physical that Seattle physicians will have to perform upon Figgins, but the deal looks like it is just about in the bag. Now the Mariners have the #2 hitter that they have been looking for the past few seasons, and Chone Figgins is put into a good situation with a young Mariners team that got much better in the 2009 MLB season.

Chone Figgins is coming off an all-star season in 2009, as he played for the Los Angeles Angels. Figgins ended the season with a .298 batting average, 114 runs scores, and 42 stolen bases. One of the great things about a hitter like Figgins, is that he also takes a lot of pitches, which is reflected by the 101 walks he accrued during the season. He has a lot of speed and the ability to hit well, but maybe the biggest thing going for Figgins is his ability to play multiple positions. For the Seattle Mariners in 2010, it looks like they will keep him at the familiar third-base position as a replacement for Adrian Beltre. Beltre has been offered arbitration, but may test out the free agent market to see what he can get somewhere else.

The Seattle Mariners just proved that they are really trying to improve their team in the 2010 season. They were able to improve the team immensely last season, finishing in second place in the American League West, and making huge strides back into respectability. A new manager, a new closer, and a pitching staff that is finally starting to perform all aided in the rise in wins for Seattle last season. If they can add to this squad a nice power hitter and another starting pitcher they could become a very serious contender for not just the division, but possibly the American League as well.

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Chone Figgins Signs With Seattle

Chone Figgins Stats Page