Catcher Zaun to Brewers; Figgins-M’s reports heating up

You can officially strike Gregg Zaun off the Mariners’ offseason wish list (if he was seriously on it in the first place).

Zaun has signed with the catching-needy Milwaukee Brewers, who’ll pay him a guaranteed $2.15 million, according to this report, and promise him a lot more playing time than the Mariners would be willing to offer at this time.

The hotter topic now is Chone Figgins, who Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com says has been offered a four-year deal worth $36 million. Jon Heyman of Sportsillustrated.com Tweets that it’s a $35 million deal.

Whatever. Not my money.

The key to me is what Figgins would bring to the Mariners both offensively and defensively. His versatility allows him to play third base, second base and some left field, and that fits perfectly with the type player manager Don Wakamatsu would love to have as he rotates his lineup.

Offensively, Figgins isn’t the thumper the Mariners could use, but he’s an on-base, make-things-happen, harass-the-opponent player. If he can do that to the Angels, who also are reportedly courting him hard, even better.

Stay tuned.