Mini Sirloin Burger Watch 2014: Chone Figgins Edition

Per Jerry Crasnick at ESPN:

Veteran infielder-outfielder Chone Figgins, looking to revive his career after a disappointing tenure in Seattle and a one-year baseball hiatus in 2013, has reached agreement on a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a baseball source told ESPN.com.

The deal includes an invitation to the team's major league spring training camp, where Figgins is expected to compete for a spot on manager Don Mattingly's roster as a utility man.

Figgins, 36, is a .277 hitter with 337 stolen bases in the majors. After making the American League All-Star team and finishing 10th in MVP balloting with the Los Angeles Angels in 2009, he signed a four-year, guaranteed $36 million deal with the Seattle Mariners with a vesting option for a fifth year.

But Figgins struggled badly in Seattle, hitting .188 and .181 in back-to-back seasons, and the Mariners released him in November 2012. Figgins hooked on with the Miami Marlins, but they released him last March and he sat out the entire 2013 season.

Figgins recently held an open tryout in Tampa that was attended by scouts from about 10 clubs. He ran the 60-yard dash in a fleet 6.5 seconds and showed enough with his bat and glove to prompt the Dodgers to offer him a minor league deal.

Probably worth a flyer for Chone. He dropped off the face of the earth after his Seattle move, but at one point he was a tiny force to be reckoned with. He could provide the 2014 squad with some speed off the bench, some what was once Gold Glove defense at multiple positions, and, most importantly, compete with Dee Gordon for team lead Mini Sirloin Burger.

Hopefully Jack in the Box will still honor this coupon.

Farewell, John Ely

The Elymania era in Los Angeles has come to a close.

Astros Aquire John Ely (mlbtraderumors.com)

We'll always have 2010. And Matthew McConaughey jokes.

And what of Rob Rasmussen, the guy we got for Ely? Well, at 5'10", he stands a good chance of becoming one of the few pitchers to qualify for MSB status.

UPDATE: Rasmussen, a former starter for UCLA, seems pretty stoked to be coming back to L.A. (Though, likely by way of ABQ.)

Speechless/incredibly excited to be a Dodger, truly a dream come true!

— Rob Rasmussen (@RasmussenRob) December 19, 2012

Image: milb.com

It's Christmas Time In Hollis Queens. And In The Baker Home.

Mrs. Dusty and I were once again feeling festive, noggy, and non-Grinchy, so we revived our tradition of having a Dodgers tree to celebrate the season. I'm fairly certain Prince Fielder won't fit under this tree, but there's always room for some LHWGs under there and hope for some MSBs in our stockings.