MERGED: P.Reese = M's new shortstop

[Sticky Spice]

I like this deal. Lopez wasn't ready to start in the Majors yet. Sure Pokey can't hit very well, but he is one of the top defensive infielders in the game and a weakness of the M's last year was D.
A one year contract for not much money seems fine to me.

I disagree. Lopez has nothing left to prove in triple AAA, and unlike fellow rookie BJ Upton who had trouble fielding SS Lopez showed great poise last year.

Seattle could have used the $$$ elsewhere

You must be thinking of someone else. Jose Lopez has just 275 career at bats in AAA and that was all in 2004. So in about half a (MLB) season of at bats he had 20 errors in AAA, which would be about on pace to lead the league (MLB) in errors.