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Chone Figgins will be Mariners third baseman in 2011

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There has been some speculation that the Mariners might try to trade Chone Figgins this off-season to free up some cash for a payroll that’s pushing its limits. But speaking to general manager Jack Zduriencik this morning, it appears that’s highly unlikely to happen and that Figgins will be the team’s Opening Day third baseman.

Zdureincik asked Figgins to make the switch back to third in a conversation just before Christmas.

“His reputation has been — I think we’ve all seen it — that he’s a very good defensive third baseman,” Zduriencik said.

Zduriencik added that the 2010 season was “very interesting for Chone” in that he had to cope with the position switch over to second, dropping down to No. 2 in the order from leadoff and the pressures of playing for a new team with a big contract. The GM hopes Figgins can get off to a quicker start in 2011 “if he gets back to a comfort level where he feels he’s been successful there.”

We’ve written for the past week or so about how the Mariners appear to be right up against their budget limit of $93.5 million (the team says it can go up to last year’s Opening Day payroll) and that this would explain their lack of recent moves. I asked Zduriencik how much flexibility he has remaining.

“We didn’t have a lot of flexibility going in,” he said. “And we did some things in some areas where I thought we had some need.”

That included adding Jack Cust as a DH and bringing in Miguel Olivo as a catcher. Brendan Ryan also came in as a potential starting second baseman.

But other than that, existing contracts and raises due certain players have indeed eaten up most of the remaining room.

“We’re going to have to do some things creatively if we do anything at all,” he said.

Some had suggested that creativity might include dealing Figgins. But that appears out.

Zduriencik said the other part of his rationale for moving Figgins to third was the limited options the team had for the position. He feels infielder Josh Wilson is better off competing for a starting second base job with Ryan.

So, Figgins appears here to stay, at least for Opening Day.

The other salary-freeing option was closer David Aardsma. But Zduriencik said Aardsma’s hip surgery was a bit more involved than first expected and that the closer might not be ready to start the season.

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Hall of Fame president says he’s pleased with diligence shown by voters over steroids issue

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Well, this was certainly an interesting interview conducted by Joe Posnanski today with National Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson. In the interview, Idelson is asked for his views on whether he thinks baseball writers are handling their vote in the right way when it comes to screening candidates who have been caught taking or linked to performance enhancing drugs.

Today’s vote saw first-timer Rafael Palmeiro limited to just 11 percent of the ballot, while Mark McGwire slipped down to 19.8 percent and Juan Gonzalez barely stayed alive at 5.2 percent. Jeff Bagwell , whose only connection to performance enhancing drugs has been through rumors and suspicion, notched 41.7 percent.

Idelson indicated that he was more than pleased with how voters have tackled the issue and seem to be upholding the ballot directive that states:

Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the team(s) on which the player played.

Here’s what Idelson said: “Baseball has historically been held to a very high standard, right or wrong,” he says. “There’s a certain integrity required when it comes to baseball’s highest honor, which is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The character clause exists as it relates to the game on the field. The character clause isn’t there to evaluate and judge players socially. It’s there to relate to the game on the field. … The voters should have the freedom to measure that however they see fit.”

In fact, the quotes from Idelson about how comfortable he is with what voters have done now lead Posnanski to believe that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens may never get into the hall of Fame. I’d have to agree with that. The message sent by voters today was pretty strong.

Photo Credit: AP

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View full post on The Seattle Times: Mariners Blog

Hall of Fame president says he’s pleased with dilligence shown by voters over steroids issue

Posted on by
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g122000000000000000adb7110e311494ca7418cf82315126872612f809.jpg

Well, this was certainly an interesting interview conducted by Joe Posnanski today with National Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson. In the interview, Idelson is asked for his views on whether he thinks baseball writers are handling their vote in the right way when it comes to screening candidates who have been caught taking or linked to performance enhancing drugs.

Today’s vote saw first-timer Rafael Palmeiro limited to just 11 percent of the ballot, while Mark McGwire slipped down to 19.8 percent and Juan Gonzalez barely stayed alive at 5.2 percent. Jeff Bagwell , whose only connection to performance enhancing drugs has been through rumors and suspicion, notched 41.7 percent.

Idelson indicated that he was more than pleased with how voters have tackled the issue and seem to be upholding the ballot directive that states:

Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the team(s) on which the player played.

Here’s what Idelson said: “Baseball has historically been held to a very high standard, right or wrong,” he says. “There’s a certain integrity required when it comes to baseball’s highest honor, which is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The character clause exists as it relates to the game on the field. The character clause isn’t there to evaluate and judge players socially. It’s there to relate to the game on the field. … The voters should have the freedom to measure that however they see fit.”

In fact, the quotes from Idelson about how comfortable he is with what voters have done now lead Posnanski to believe that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens may never get into the hall of Fame. I’d have to agree with that. The message sent by voters today was pretty strong.

Photo Credit: AP

Read more…

View full post on The Seattle Times: Mariners Blog