Seattle Mariners: 4 Things to Do with Chone Figgins

Chone Figgins isn't producing. For $9 million, he really isn't producing. If the Mariners want to stay in contention, they need to solve this Figgins problem, and preferably do it soon.

Figgins is currently putting up a line of .190/.232/.256. As the No. 2 hitter for most of the season, he just isn't cutting it. 

Not only is Figgins having trouble recording hits, he is walking at the lowest rate of his career. At least last year he was getting on base once every three plate appearances.

Nothing is going right for Figgins, and something, nay anything, has to be done. 

Bench Him

Rob Carr/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 12: Chone Figgins #9 of the Seattle Mariners in action against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Manager Eric Wedge has already started giving him days off here and there, but I'm talking about giving him a week off. Let him take some time to clear his head.

What's the worst thing that could happen?

He loses even more confidence and his average drops from .190 to .180? So we're back at square one. Oh well.

The best case scenario?

Figgins gets a reality check and starts hitting like the 2009 Chone Figgins. I'll even take the 2009 Chone Figgins at this point.

It's a long shot that one week off will fix his problems, but its worth trying. I don't mind putting Adam Kennedy, who is hitting the poop out of the ball and has played third base before in his career, in there for a week or two. 

Drop Him in the Order

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 23: Chone Figgins #9 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Minnesota Twins during their game on May 23, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockies won 6-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

He's already been dropped from second to as low as eighth, but they might as well fully commit and put him in that nine spot.

Couldn't hurt to have Ichiro behind him, right?

Of course, Figgy couldn't hit with power-hitter Justin Smoak protecting him, but again, might as well try it out.

If he's going to do damage, and I might mean damage in a negative way, let him do it at the end of the lineup. If Seattle can't replace Figgins, they have to keep him at either the eighth or ninth spot.

Trade Him

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OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 3: Hideki Matsui #55 of the Oakland Athletics trying to take third base on fly-ball is tagged out by Chone Figgins #9 of the Seattle Mariners during a MLB baseball game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum April 3, 2011 in Oakland, C

This is a tough one. It would hurt to trade Figgins while his value is lowest, but if the Mariners deem him un-fixable, they might as well get rid of him now.

They might be able to find another struggling player and trade bad salary for salary, a la the Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley deal.

They might be able to trade him for some decent prospects, but would probably have to eat a large part of his contract.

Whatever they do, it probably won't be an ideal fix, but it will get the ever-increasingly unpopular Figgins out of town. 

Put Him on the DL

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SEATTLE - MAY 06: Chone Figgins #9 of the Seattle Mariners throws to first against the Chicago White Sox at Safeco Field on May 6, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 3-2. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

It's been known to happen before. A team puts their struggling player on the DL with a phantom injury.

This move would have similar effects to benching him for a week or two, but it would allow the Mariners to call up someone such as Mike Carp or maybe Mr. Dustin Ackley. 

Conclusion

Harry How/Getty Images

PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 01: Chone Figgins #9 of the Seattle Mariners smiles as he warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers during spring training at Peoria Stadium on March 1, 2011 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The first action that Seattle needs to take is to drop him in the order. They've already done that, but stick with it for a couple of weeks. Let him get accustomed to the new spot, and see how he does with it.

If that doesn't work, then go with the benching or DL idea. 

Figgins is still just 33. A drop as big as this in offensive production shouldn't be happening quite yet. He still provides good defense—most of the time—at the hot corner. It's not time to cut ties with him yet.

Finally, if he doesn't produce at the bottom of the lineup, if the benching doesn't work, and if there is a deal on the table sometime around the deadline, then send him packing.

But it's not time to give up on Figgins quite yet.