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1. To me, the evidence indicates that Z built the team as if he had some "inside intelligence" that Fielder or A. Gonzalez, or both, would be available before the deadline and that the Brewers and/or Padres were amenable to what he had to offer.  Supposedly, he had been close to a deal for AGone before.  One of the reasons he didn't want to give Branyan a 2-year deal or open the checkbook for Jason Bay -- keeping his powder dry.
Kotchman and Jr would be there to see what could be squeezed out of them before the real help showed up.  Just me speculating, but notice that once it was clear that no such trade was possible, he went out and got Branyan for what he could have gotten him for in the off-season.
Obviously, Phase II never made it off the drawing board.  Sometimes you can keep your powder too dry.
2. Don't forget "nap-gate" -- it showed early on that there was plenty of dissent in clubhouse centered around Jr's privileges epitomizing veteran entitlement.