Rays working on Iwamura deal

Just got back to New York and heard from an industry source who's not with the Rays that they are on the verge of completing a trade of 2B Akinori Iwamura.

The Rays were looking to do some kind of deal since they weren't planning to pick up the $4.85-million option to bring him back. What's interesting is that the source indicated the deal wasn't with the Cubs or the Dodgers as has been speculated on but to an unexpected team. Hmmm.

The Rays are operating under something of a deadline since they have until one day after the end of the World Series to either pick up the option or pay a $550,000 buyout and allow Iwamura to become a free agent. They have been working on essentially a sign-and-trade deal, where they would get something back for him. It would probably be too big of a gamble for them to pick up the option without having a deal in place.

Iwamura hit .281 in three seasons with the Rays after coming over from Japan, playing third in 2007 and second the last two seasons. He sustained what was considered a season-ending knee injury in May of this year, but made an unexpected recover and rejoined the team for the final month, playing 69 games total. He has a career .354 on-base percentage.

Iwamura, 30, indicated a preference to stay with the Rays, but they are talking about using either Ben Zobrist or Sean Rodriguez, or a combination of the two, at second next season.

blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/11/rays-working-on-iwamura-deal.html

Looks like it's the Pirates. Weird move considering he's due almost $5M.

Any team trading for Iwamura would be stupid knowing that he could possibly be had a day after the WS.

Maybe, maybe not. The Rays would probably pick up the option knowing the Dodgers and Cubs would be willing to give up something for him...but the Rays would no doubt have to eat some of his salary. So it's either get a little in return and not pay his salary or get a little more in return and pay a little of his salary.

The Pirats gave up Jesse Chaves(4.01 ERA in 67.3 innings this year as a rookie, with a 6.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. He's under team control through 2014.)

Not that impressive, but those are rookie year stats, so who knows what his ceiling is.

Sorry, but I don't share your pain in losing this guy. One homer in 260 at bats this year, now where is LA ever going to find a second baseman who can do that? Maybe Juan Castro. Seriously, we're not exactly losing Chase Utley here. It's too bad Hudson seems to be such a first half player, because he is an all around decent player but has obviously fallen out of disfavor. We need more power at second than Iwamura would provide, considering Martin's HR power seems to have vanished, Loney's stuck on 13 and even if Manny returns it'll be with less pop it appears. should Pierre be in LF the power will mostly be generated by 2 guys--Ethier and Kemp--sounds like another struggle for runs in the making.

"Sorry, but I don't share your pain in losing this guy."

Who said I was in pain over losing this guy? I didn't want him, just relaying information because some people were throwing his name out as a possible acquisition.

I'd rather give 2nd base to DeWitt. Decent fielder, 10HR-15HR potential, .270ish avg maybe. That's passable for a 2B. Not to mention he's cheap(unlike Belliard or Hudson) and we won't have to give up anyone to get him(unlike Iwamura, Zobrist, or any other player that has been mentioned around here).