With M's moving Ackley to 2B, Lopez may be expendable

Sporting News staff reports The Seattle Times speculates the Mariners will trade second baseman Jose Lopez before next season, although the News-Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., says there's no market for him. Lopez hit 25 homers and drove in 96 runs this past season, but he had only a .303 on-base percentage and isn't considered a strong defensive player. Plus, Seattle is considering moving 2009 first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley from first base to second; the Times speculates the Mariners could pursue a free agent (Orlando Hudson or Placido Polanco) to man the position until Ackley is ready, and dangle Lopez as trade bait. Seattle drafted Ackley as a first baseman last June, but Ackley's college coach, Mike Fox, tells the Times the former North Carolina star has the ability to make the move. "We never really had Dusty at second base here, but he played shortstop in high school, and I saw him play third base in high school, and he played first base...