Chone Figgins is not in Friday's lineup against the Twins. Batting .189/.250/.305 on the year, Figgins is mired in a 1-for-23 slump. Alex Liddi will start in his place, which could become an increasingly common occurrence if Seattle's $36 million man doesn't soon show some signs of life.

Chone Figgins went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Tigers. The veteran also swiped his second bag of the season. It marks Figgins' third three-hit game of the month -- the first time he has achieved this since August 2009. Seeking to rebound from last year's debacle, he is now batting .236 with a disappointing 21/8 K/BB ratio.

Chone Figgins went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Indians. He also drew a walk. Don't look now, but Figgins is hitting .260/.321/.400 through his first 55 plate appearances. It's not the kind of production he was given $36 million for, but would nevertheless be a vast improvement on his past two seasons if it could hold. With just one stolen base, however, he's still not shaping up as a great option in mixed leagues.

Chone Figgins went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double in the Mariners' 8-7 win over the A's on Saturday. Figgins is 6-for-8 the last two days after going 1-for-8 in the opening series in Japan. The Mariners seem committed to playing him regularly, and if the hot start continues, he'll probably be the everyday third baseman once Mike Carp returns from the DL to take over in left field later this month.

Chone Figgins went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a steal Friday against the A's. He actually reached four times, as he was safe at first on a Josh Donaldson error in the third inning. He bunted twice, once for a sacrifice and the other going for an RBI single in the sixth. As poorly as he's done swinging away the last couple of years, it's hard to argue with the strategy.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Thursday that Chone Figgins will get some work at shortstop this spring. Figgins, who projects as the M's starting third baseman, has only started 17 games at shortstop during his major-league career and hasn't played an inning there since 2006. Munenori Kawasaki looks like the best bet to back up to Brendan Ryan at the moment, so Figgins would be more of an emergency option.

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times expects the Mariners to name Chone Figgins their leadoff hitter within the next few days. Figgins' stock is on the rise, as earlier today we learned that he'll be a regular, and now it appears that he'll hit atop the lineup, with Ichiro moving down in the order. He's expected to be the primary third baseman but will also be used at other positions, potentially giving him multi-position eligibility. The 34-year-old batted a woeful .188/.241/.243 over 313 plate appearances in 2011 while battling injuries, but he's a career .280/.352/.368 hitter that should rebound to at least some degree in 2012. His stolen base upside make him worthy of a late-round fantasy selection.

Chone Figgins said the Mariners have told him he'll be an everyday player this season as long as he's healthy. The M's plan to put him at third base most days but will move him around the diamond. "They asked me if I'd mind doing it,'' Figgins said. "And I'm like, 'No'. They said, 'If we need you to move around some says, would you mind?' and I said 'No'.'' The 34-year-old could even get a shot at batting leadoff, as Seattle has discussed moving Ichiro out of the spot. Figgins had an abysmal .188/.241/.243 batting line over 313 plate appearances in 2011 during an injury-shortened season, which makes him impossible to trust for fantasy purposes. But, if he's healthy, he at least has a shot at a rebound. With Figgins in the hot corner most days, it enhances the probability that Kyle Seager won't make the team.

Greg Johns of MLB.com reports that the Mariners are checking with the Rockies to gauge their interest in trading for Chone Figgins. Johns says the Mariners have asked the Rockies about their willingness to deal Seth Smith. They've reportedly offered Smith to the Braves for Martin Prado, but there's no way they'll trade him for Figgins, even if the M's agree to eat most of the latter's remaining contract. Figgins is due $17 million over the next two years and batted just .188/.241/.243 over 313 plate appearances this season.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Mariners are willing to take on salary in order to trade Chone Figgins. Interest remains "tepid," according to Morosi. The Reds, Tigers and Giants seem like possible fits, though all three are probably waiting to see if they can sign a better option through free agency. Figgins, who turns 34 in January, batted .188/.241/.243 over 313 plate appearances this season. He is owed $9 million next season and $8 million in 2013. His contract also includes a $9 million vesting option for 2014 if he makes 600 plate appearances in 2013, which could complicate matters.