The Mariners signing of Chone Figgins was the absolute peak of over-exaggeration of the importance of defense by some sabermetricians. Paying that much money to a 31 year old infielder who was a league average hitter or worse most of his career was pure folly. I didn't quite expect him to crater this badly, but I didn't think there was any way he was going to justify that contract.

The Mariners signing of Chone Figgins was the absolute peak of over-exaggeration of the importance of defense by some sabermetricians. Paying that much money to a 31 year old infielder who was a league average hitter or worse most of his career was pure folly.

The Mariners signing of Chone Figgins was the absolute peak of over-exaggeration of the importance of defense by some sabermetricians.

The Mariners signing of Chone Figgins was the absolute peak of over-exaggeration of the importance of defense by some sabermetricians.

Paying that much money to a 31 year old infielder who was a league average hitter or worse most of his career was pure folly.

So in the other thread Voros said that there was a vesting option for 2013 based on 600 PA. What happens to that if Figgins catches on somewhere and gets the 600 PA? What about other clauses, like if he signs with the Yankees and wins WS MVP (if he had a bonus for that)?

I think the Figgins signing will come to embody the Zduriencik era for the Mariners better than any other single transaction: it was a fine idea at the time, now it's a brilliant mistake.

How will this affect his Hall of fame chances?

I dunno. Figgins was a fast runner who could play anywhere on the field; he had more value than the sum of his parts, as it were. It seems to me more a conjunction of two ill-advised decisions: sign a player turning 32 to a longterm contract, and then put that player, who was a valuable roleplaying supersub on a good team, at second base every day (at the outside of his talent) and in the #2 lineup position every day (ditto).

#15 Absolutely incorrect. If he clears and is released the Mariners are on the hook for $8million (less major league minimum if he signs elsewhere) next year. And $9 million (again less major league minimum) in 2014 if he clears 600 PAs in 2013.

#15 Absolutely incorrect. If he clears and is released the Mariners are on the hook for $8million (less major league minimum if he signs elsewhere) next year. And $9 million (again less major league minimum) in 2014 if he clears 600 PAs in 2013.

#15 Absolutely incorrect. If he clears and is released the Mariners are on the hook for $8million (less major league minimum if he signs elsewhere) next year. And $9 million (again less major league minimum) in 2014 if he clears 600 PAs in 2013.

#15 Absolutely incorrect. If he clears and is released the Mariners are on the hook for $8million (less major league minimum if he signs elsewhere) next year. And $9 million (again less major league minimum) in 2014 if he clears 600 PAs in 2013.

"I'm angry," Thomas said on Saturday, claiming the decision was made so Toronto could avoid having to automatically guarantee next year's $10-million US contract if he got 376 plate appearances this season.

Thomas's vesting option for 2009 was part of the $18.12-million, two-year deal signed in November of 2006.

"The Blue Jays terminated Thomas' contract when they gave him his unconditional release. Under the terms of the CBA, he's entitled to all money guaranteed him under that contract. Because he did not have 376 PA this year, the 2009 option did not vest and so it was not guaranteed.

When Thomas signed with the A's, it was an entirely new contract. The 2009 option was never part of the A's contractual obligation. Now had he been traded or claimed off waivers (ie, had the Blue Jays assigned his contract to another team) then the vesting option would have still been a possibility. But the option was "killed" when the contract was terminated before the option vested.

In that case, would it be in anyone's best interest to pick him up at the league minimum and play him 600 PAs as a super sub, just to screw with the Angels' purse strings next year?

I would think that a team willing to take a flyer on Figgins might be willing to call the Mariners and say: "Hey, I'll take on $500K of what you owe Figgins. Trade him to me, and I'll send you an organizational palooka back".

I could see Figgins as a decent piece, at a cost of $500K to $1MM (pretty much no risk) for an organizational looking for a super utility player.