Mariners sign Chone Figgins to free agent deal
Posted on December 7, 2009
Los Angeles Angels base runner Chone Figgins slides home safely as Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall applies a late tag during their game at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on April 22, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Chone Figgins, the guy with the best smile in the Big Leagues, is swapping Los Angeles Angels red for Seattle Mariners blue this week as he is the first big free agent to sign a new contract this off season. The former Angles infielder has always been one of my favorite guys to shoot, especially in the dugout before a game. I am glad he will be staying on the west coast so I can still shoot him three times during the season when his new club visits Oakland to play the A’s.
Erick Aybar (left), Chone Figgins (middle), and Juan Rivera of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
The Mariners are looking to be major players this week as baseball’s winter meetings begin in Indianapolis. Their signing of Figgins, who will replace Adrian Beltre at third base, could just be the beginning as they also appear to be pursuing outfielder Jason Bay and pitcher John Lackey.
Chone Figgins #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats against the Oakland Athletics during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Figgins, whose new deal with the Mariners calls for $9 million a year for four years should fit in well with manager Don Wakamatsu’s club. Figgins is a career .291 hitter who scored 114 runs and swiped 42 bases in 2009 for the Angels. With all the speed that is so crucial to his game it will be interesting to see how the Mariners stack their lineup in 2010 with both Figgins and Ichiro Suzuki at the top of their order.
Chone Figgins #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim stands in the dugout against the Oakland Athletics during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 19, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
I always enjoyed shooting Figgins when he was with the Angels. His club would come up here to the Bay Area to play the A’s three times a year in Oakland and they always had such a great vibe about them, especially in the dugout before games. Figgins was always right there in the middle of the fun flashing his great smile and posing for pictures with his teammates.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Chone Figgins turns a double play at second base during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, AZ on March 3, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
One thing I know I can count on when I report to the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona in March of 2010: Chone Figgins will be smiling whether I shoot him in the dugout or on the field. Figgins is a nice ballplayer and a real good guy. I wish him well in Seattle. Now his club needs someone to drive in both Ichiro and him!
Bobby Abreu #53 and Chone Figgins #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 3, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
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