Wedge said Figgins handled himself well this year
Oct 5, 2012, 12:38 PM | Updated: 5:13 pm
By Brady Henderson
We didn’t hear much from Chone Figgins after the Mariners’ utility man lost his starting job in May and played sparingly for the rest of the season.
 Chone Figgins |
That changed earlier this week when Figgins was quoted as saying he wantes out of Seattle, telling John Hickey of Sportspress Northwest, “I can’t take two more years of this.”
Mariners manager Eric Wedge was asked about Figgins’ comments when he joined “Brock and Salk” on Thursday.
“He’s handled himself as good as he can considering the tough situation he’s in, so that doesn’t surprise me,” Wedge said.
Figgins has been the definition of a bust since signing a four-year, $36 million contract with the Mariners after an All-Star season with the Angels in 2009. He’s hit just .227 in three seasons in Seattle, including a career-worst .181 in 2012.
Figgins’ first two seasons in Seattle were so bad that there was some thought the Mariners would cut bait before the 2012 season. Instead, they gave Figgins a chance to return to his customary leadoff spot, and he was benched a little over a month into the season.
“We gave him another opportunity at the beginning of the year, it didn’t work out and that was it; we couldn’t take it any further,” Wedge said. “We utilized him as we felt like we needed to, and he didn’t play very much but showed up and did his work every day.”
Figgins is signed through 2013 and his contract has a vesting option for the 2014 season.
“It’s unfortunate it hasn’t worked out here but we’ll just have to see how we navigate things this winter,” Wedge said.
