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I've been listening to the Lopez for AG speculation for months ... and I'm still left with the one overwhelming variable in all of this that that gets the least attention:  Who plays Lopez' position for the Ms if/when Lopez leaves?
Okay - the club has Figgins at 2B - so 3B is the spot to be filled at this point.  Is Tui the answer?  Or Hannahan?
In ST, the club decided Lopez could play plus defense at third - and Figgins could play plus at 2B -- and opinions ranged from strong skepticism to downright hatred of the concept.  So far - it has worked pretty much just as the braintrust suggested it would (from an eyeballs on perspective).  But, that doesn't change the fact that "at the moment", the club is only middle of the pack in DER.
But, how much does the club lose defensively with Hannahan or Tui?
How much does the club lose offensively with either switch?
Lopez has been a steady 100 OPS+ hitter - (leaning toward power more than OBP).
Tui is nice prospect with a couple of good Sprint Trainings - while Hannahan is effectively Ronny Cedeno with a little patience. 
There is the 'possibility' that Tui could be a quick-blossoming bat.  There's also the possibility that his 30/4 K/BB ratio in his 82 ABs is the alarm bell that even if Tui eventually makes it in the majors - his transition isn't going to be quick or easy.
Trading an .800 1B for a .900 1B doesn't gain ANYTHING AT ALL - if you're downgrading a .750 3B to a .650 3B *AND* degrading your defense (potentially at both positions).
THAT trade actually spends a bunch more money, sends a lot of specs away, and actually makes the team worse. 
Yes - it is still early.  It is certainly too early to make firm decisions on the 'weakest link' positions on the roster.  But, at the moment, the weakest link appears to be DH.  Is AG going to happily accept DHing?
Just as a hypothetical - what if Kotchman is still hitting .800 - .820 in July?  Is AG still the proper target?  And if Griffey is hitting .680?  Or, if Bradley continues to struggle - (or, more likey - that he's on the DL)?
IMO, the borderline obsession on AG is predicated on the presumption that Kotchman is going to be a worthless pile of dung --- LUCKY to hit .750 -- coupled by the presumption that the other 8 positions are filled adequately.
To me - LF and DH remain the Achilles Heel for Seattle -- due to a combination of suspect production AND health limitations. 
In the end - come trade time - I have confidence that Z will do what he has done from day one - make a move to IMPROVE the team -- not to get a big name to sell tickets, or appease the fan base.  He'll either upgrade a position, stand pat - if the price is too high, or find a way to upgrade the farm.
But, exactly what the club needs come July is still very, very much in doubt.

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