According to Buster Olney as well as MLTR, Aki is a Pirate, and the Rays will receive Jesse Chavez. Chevez throws in the mid to upper 90's, so he is now the hardest thrower on the Rays as a reliever. A good move, we do not need Aki, and we get a young pitcher in the pen. Chavez, as a young pitcher, had an occasional bad outing which hurt his era, (just over .400) but he can be dominant and may get better with experience. I'm also a Bucco fan....a good return for Aki...trust me.

We do not need Aki??? Just wait until Zobrist comes back to earth next year both as a hitter and a 2b and the guy we picked up proves he has another year in the minors before becoming the starting second baseman. This was nothing less than a cost cutting measure by this ownership group and when we return to one of the most porous infields again like we were the year before Aki moved to 2b and before Longo became our everyday 3b, I will be among the first to say "I told you so". While it is nice to get a young arm in the bullpen, it is meaninless until we get a competent pitching coach who won't ruin him like he has done to every other young pitcher here the past 3 years. Bad move.

Good luck in Pittsburgh Aki. I hope you bat .315 next year and win a gold glove.

...Thank you Aki for your service to the rays....best wishes on your future success with the pirates...you were a class act during your time here.

I can't wait to watch the development of the Rays new hurler...Hickey does wonders with young pitchers.....