Dodgers designate infielder Figgins for assignment

ANAHEIM -- The Dodgers designated veteran infielder Chone Figgins for assignment. He had been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Figgins had been out since June 14 with a strained hip flexor that originally was listed as a pulled quad. He became expendable with last week's trade for Darwin Barney, who can also serve the utility infielder role but at age 28 is eight years younger than Figgins. And at the Major League level, backup infielder Miguel Rojas provides strong defense at shortstop, which is what the Dodgers want on their bench, manager Don Mattingly said.

"The real fit for us is having a shortstop," Mattingly said. "And although Figgins can play short, it's not really what we're looking at that position."

Figgins made it back to the Major Leagues this year as a non-roster invitee in Spring Training having sat out all of last year after being released in Spring Training by the Miami Marlins. He was released the previous winter by the Seattle Mariners, who signed him to a four-year, $35 million contract after his lone All-Star season with the Angels.

In 38 games with the Dodgers, he hit .217 with one RBI and had four stolen bases.

"It's a tough one with Figgy," Mattingly said. "I think we all got pretty attached to who he is, and what he brought to the club. At the end of the day, it's kind of unfortunate. He ends up getting hurt and going down, and the situation changed."