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Posts Tagged ‘2011’

Chone Figgins will be Mariners third baseman in 2011

January 7th, 2011 |

Author: admin

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.

2011 Hall of Fame vote an international affair

January 6th, 2011 |

Author: admin

2011 Hall of Fame vote an international affair
This year’s Baseball Hall of Fame vote took on a distinctly international tone with the election of Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven, who tried on their Cooperstown jerseys at a news conference on Thursday.

MLB Predictions: 10 Players Who Face Make-or-Break Seasons in 2011

January 6th, 2011 |

Author: admin

MLB Predictions: 10 Players Who Face Make-or-Break Seasons in 2011
The 2010 MLB season featured plenty of break-out performances. From Joey Votto and Carlos Gonzalez to David Price, there were plenty of new stars in the game. On the other end of the spectrum, we have players that already have experienced success in their careers, but in 2010, they were considered disappointments. Whether it be due to injuries, age or just poor performances, here are 10 players …