True or False: Jose Lopez will be a Mariner in 2011

[Igoe4Mariners]

As you may know, the Mariners will have to pick up Lopez' option in order to make him a Mariner for next season. A lot of M's fan have a ton of mixed feelings about Jose.

Personally...I think he will be gone since he doesn't fit the Jack Z mold, but who knows?

Thoughts?

[JosephC]

True, I think he will be gone and shoved in a trade package for another player. Perhaps with David Aardsma, since he has some of the biggest trade value this team has got right now, whereas lopez has almost none. I don't see him coming back another year.

[phredmojo]

he's back. he may not finish the year with the team, but come april he is the starter

[clarknova]

Earlier in the year I thought he'd be back due to his relatively small contract, but I think he's gone for sure at this point. My prediction is team option is declined.

[Nateyb24]

Nope. We will move Figgins back to 3rd and either use someone in our organazation or sign a stop gap player for Ackley. DA will be traded though no point into holding on to a closer if your not going to compete for a few years.

[JosephC]

My thoughts exactly. Figgins needs to be moved back to 3rd where he was good with the Angels.

[phredmojo]

My thoughts exactly. Figgins needs to be moved back to 3rd where he was good with the Angels.

no figgins need to be moved back to the angels where he will continue to suck

[JosephC]

or that for the right price :D

[TellItToTheDA]

no figgins need to be moved back to the angels where he will continue to suck

No. Figgins needs to be moved back to third.

[JosephC]

While there is not a good replacement for Figgins on this team right now, for the right price I wouldn't mind seeing this guy shipped off. I don't like his "no power" bat, and I don't like his attitude. I have no problem with his defensive glove and speed.

[TellItToTheDA]

While there is not a good replacement for Figgins on this team right now, for the right price I wouldn't mind seeing this guy shipped off. I don't like his "no power" bat, and I don't like his attitude. I have no problem with his defensive glove and speed.

The thing for me is, while many people are willing to give him if someone's willing to take his salary, I don't think that's enough. I think he can still be a major piece for a contending team. Frankly I'd prefer a deal that pays part of the salary, and gives us a decent prospect.

[clarknova]

Figgins is a tough call. He could be having an "off" year, or a trasitional year... Or, he could be Cirillo II. Trading him now would be tough because he's not worth his contract. Had he played even close to where he was last year, he'd have been a steal at 9.5 mil per. I don't think with this year's performance, we're going to find a team that's going to eat that contract. From what it sounds like, Atlanta's reluctance to take more than about 2/3 of it was the deal breaker. They valued him at something like 6.5 million, and that's what they were willing to give up for him, so they'd be asking the M's to pay 3 million a year for the duration of his contract to play in Atlanta. A mid level prospect or two could help to offset that, but any way you slice it the M's would be taking a pretty substantial loss on him, unless they can find a rube (KC, I'm looking at you!). He was a more than adequate 3rd baseman, and has been a less than adequate 2nd baseman. If my prediction holds true and with our future 2nd baseman currently tearing it up at the AAA level, I don't see any more logical move than decline the option on Lopez, move Figgy back to 3rd and hope his bat recovers some, and either pick up a stop gap, or push Ackley early. Personally, I'd err on the side of caution and try to pick up a 2nd baseman to fill in as has been suggested in this thread, looking to call Ackley up mid season if he continues to hit well and progress defensively. If we're going to eat contract I'd suggest Bradley.