Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Chone Figgins, the overpaid professional bench-warmer, no longer wears a Mariners uniform. It’s the moment fans have been waiting for since his promising .298 average and $36M contract began to sour over three subpar seasons in Seattle.

Now, the Mariners have ten days to trade or outright Figgins before his inevitable release. The team is also prepared to absorb the rest of Figgins’ contract, a sizable $8M through 2013. From MLB.com’s Greg Johns:

“These decisions are driven by what a player does on the the field and when you get to the point he may no longer be part of this club going forward , you have to make decisions,” said general manager Jack Zduriencik. “He just became an expendable piece and that’s just it. That’s the end of the story.”

Scott Cousins has also been designated for assignment, just two weeks after the Mariners claimed him off waivers. This will be the third DFA he’s received from an MLB team in the past two months.

To fill out the 40-man roster, the team promoted MiLB pitchers Bobby LaFromboise, Anthony Fernandez, and Brandon Maurer, infielder Vinnie Catricala, and outfielder Julio Morban. Should Jack Z have anymore surprises up his sleeve this offseason, the roster will be reshuffled as needed.

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

According to Sosnick Cobbe Sports, and echoed by beat writer Greg Johns, the Mariners have claimed outfielder Scott Cousins off waivers.

Cousins is the eighth outfielder to claim a roster spot, joining Mike Carp, Franklin Gutierrez, Carlos Peguero, Michael Saunders, Casper Wells, Eric Thames, and Trayvon Robinson. From Johns’ MLB blog:

It’s hard seeing where Cousins might fit into that mix, but he does have one Minor League option remaining, while Carp, Robinson and Wells are out of options.

At 27 years old, Scott has spent his three-year MLB career with the Miami Marlins, batting .183/.231/.291 in 128 games and 188 PA. In 2012, he split playing time between the big club and its Triple-A affiliate. He was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays in October, and designated for assignment just two weeks later.