Seattle Mariners’ Chone Figgins spoke with Larry Stone of The Seattle Times at the team’s FanFest, and the infielder downplayed the trade rumors that involved him and the Oakland Athletics.

“I always said, it’s a great thing to be wanted,” he said. “But I want to win here. I’ve said all along, this has been one of the best places I’ve ever played — the city, the fans. I’ll always love playing here. This is where I want to be, and until they force me out of here, this is where I’m going to be.”

A source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that’s “nothing is going to happen” regarding Figgins.

Figgins has limited no-trade rights, but can veto a trade to Oakland.  When Stone asked Figgins what he would do if he were presented with a trade to Oakland, he said:

“I want to be here,” he replied. “Like I said, I want to be here.”

On January 28, rumors regarding a Figgins trade for Kevin Kouzmanoff surfaced, but were eventually debunked by the Mariners’ GM.

I’m looking forward to Figgins being our starting third baseman,” Zduriencik said. “He’ll be here tomorrow [for the Mariners' FanFest]. He’s been agreeable to moving back to third base and that’s our plan, to have Chone be our Opening Day third baseman.”

Figgins, 33, hit .259/.340/.306 with 1 HR and 35 RBI’s with the Mariners in 2010.