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We need Russell Branyan in the middle of this lineup. The Mariners are near unwatchable without him or someone like him. The mistake is not the trade, it was letting him go in the first place. The front office botched the job then, and now they are fixing it. It sucks having to trade useful players, but it beats pretending this lineup works. When I go to the Safe, I pay to see a competitive team. I want to see a victory. I was embarrassed by the product the last two times I went. The M's know who they are targeting for promotion 2011 and beyond. Nobody in this deal was included. And nothing here keeps the M's from trying to acquire Kila Ka'aihue if they so desire to try to pry him from the Royals as well.