Dodgers release Chone Figgins; Tommy John surgery for Stephen Fife

There are few guarantees in the majors, either for a player’s career or single season.

The Dodgers’ hopes for two players this season came to an end Wednesday, one via the waiver wire and one the scalpel.

Infielder Chone Figgins, a player the Dodgers liked but who could never complete his comeback, was released. Figgins had cleared waivers and elected not to return back to triple-A Albuquerque.

Meanwhile, right-hander Stephen Fife was scheduled to have Tommy John surgery Wednesday. Fife had been a pleasant spot starter for the past seasons (4-6, 3.49 ERA) but had been battling chronic forearm and shoulder soreness this year at Albuquerque.

Figgins, 36, had been on a prolonged rehab assignment with Albuquerque after suffering a severe quad strain and had maxed out his disabled list period.

He appeared in 38 games for the Dodgers before straining his left quad in mid-June, batting .217. The diminutive Figgins actually had one more walk (14) than hits and had a decent .373 on-base percentage.

The Dodgers liked his veteran presence in the clubhouse, and as a utility man, he played third and second, and appeared in two games at shortstop. Figgins was trying to come back after sitting out all last season, following two disastrous seasons (.185) with the Mariners.

He still couldn’t seem to get the old offense rolling in hitter-friendly Albuquerque, hitting just .286 in 19 games for the Isotopes. He became even more expendable after the Dodgers picked up infielder Darwin Barney from the Cubs July 28.

Fife, 26, appeared in only 11 games (nine starts) for the Isotopes, going 2-2 with a 7.01 ERA. He made one start for the Dodgers this season, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings against the Marlins on May 4.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache was scheduled to perform the ulnar collateral ligament transfer Wednesday in Los Angeles. Fife is expected to miss all of next season.

The Dodgers also lost left-hander Colt Hynes, 29, on a waiver claim to the Indians. The Dodgers had waived him to make room on the 40-man roster for Barney.

Hynes, who was previously with the Padres, was 1-3 with a respectable 4.08 ERA in 42 relief appearances with the Isotopes.