My error. I assumed your reference to him coming out of his funk was also a comment on a "hot" performance. I stand corrected.
Figgins' value hinged on him being the player that put the M's "over the top" (from their '09 season and into contention).
Didn't happen. Now he's an $8M Punchy and Judy hitter, who isn't really a high OPB guy, who might hit in the .280's. All this on a team stifled by payroll issues. He's in the decline of his career. And he certainly established himself as no great clubhouse presence.
Right now...Kouz is his equal. In a different way, perhaps....
The problem with not selling Figgy to the first good offer is that IF he craps out again this year he has even less value.
There wasn't really anything sub-standard for Figgins last year. His BABIP was fine..a bit below his career avg., but his walks were at his second highest total ever.
There is a place for a low slugging, hig OBP guy. Unless Figgy gets up to .370 he isn't a high OBP guy.
Researching his career BABIP about 3 minutes ago I bumped into this article....One man's opinion, of course...but Kouz is at least as good as an investment.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-might-not-upgrade-greatly-wi...
For me, before reading that analysis, it came down to Kouz being his equal (or better) with the glove AND he raps out 50 X-Base hits with regularity. AND...he's a bunch cheaper. AND it appears there might be an arm in the deal.
Two for one, for a rebuilding team, is a wise investment.
moe
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