Sources: Bucs finalizing deal for 2B Iwamura
By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com
The Pirates are on the verge of completing a deal for Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the deal has actually already been finalized and an announcement will come later on Tuesday evening after Tampa Bay has been able to reach Iwamura in Japan once the sun rises there.
Right now, it's unknown who the Pirates will part ways with in the trade, though the Rays are known in the market for young catching and young pitching.
The deal will be a sign-and-trade one, as the Rays hold a $4.85 million club option on Iwamura for 2010. Tampa Bay was not expected to pick up the option and had been prepared to pay a $550,000 buyout and watch Iwamura enter the free agent pool. Now, though, the Rays can exercise the option and then immediately send Iwamura to Pittsburgh.
Trading for Iwamura, who hit .291 in an injury-plagued 2009 season, would address one of Pittsburgh's biggest needs this winter since the Pirates entered the offseason without an established second baseman ready for '10. Delwyn Young spent the last two months of the season trying to show that he could be the second baseman of the future, but when the season ended, there were still questions about his defensive ability.
Iwamura, 30, has hit .281 with 103 RBIs in 344 career games over three seasons with the Rays. He has also spent a considerable amount of his time in the Majors as a third baseman.
From what I've heard, it's not believed that the Pirates are going to deal away someone who is as established as closer Matt Capps.
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This is just another rent a player for a year by pirate management. They think the fans are stupid. Once Iwa gets here he will play like the pro that he is but be back in Japan the following year. We give up a young arm with a fastball in the mid 90's, the kid Chavas will just get better. The Pirates had control of him till 2014 also.
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What is it with Huntington and injured players? Moss, Hanson, and Jose A. from the Cubs. From what I've read he is in Japan and it does not look like the Pirates examined his knee. A promising young releiver for a 30 year old coming off a major knee injury. You weaken your already weak bullpen for a question mark and pay him 4.5 million. Does not make sense.
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