Rays finalize deal to send Iwamura to Pirates for reliever Chavez

UPDATE, 7:43: Rays exec VP Andrew Friedman said "it is hard to put into words what Aki has meant to the organization" and that the Pirates "were all over us for about a month" about getting him. Chavez, Friedman said, "has real upside. This year was a good year we feel he has the tools and abilities to have an even better year.''

UPDATE, 7:00: Rays make it official, trading Iwamura to Pirates for Chavez. Added bonus, Rays save the $550,000 buyout they would have had to pay Iwamura for declining his option.

UPDATE, 6:06: The Rays will get back righthanded reliever Jesse Chavez, a 26- year-old who was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 73 appearances for the Pirates last season. Chavez was drafted by Texas and traded to the Pirates in July 2006 for Kip Wells. His inclusion in the deal was first reported by ESPN's Buster Olney. Overall, Chavez has pitched in 88 big-league games and has a 1-5, 4.48 mark.

UPDATE, 4:16: The team the Rays are dealing Iwamura to is the Pirates.
 
Still working on what they are going to get back, but the Pirates do have some young arms and some young catching. Will be interesting to see if the Rays are paying any money to upgrade the quality of the return - that's what they did in the Aubrey Huff deal, and that Ben Zobrist guy turned out okay. Expect an official announcement tonight, when it will be Wednesday morning in Japan and the Rays can talk to Aki.

DEVELOPING: 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.

Comments

[Dick Weed]

That's why you're not a scout, pa. Your comment is totally moronic but thanks for checking in anyway.

[pabatts]

Where is Carl Crawford worth $10 million.His only asset is stealing bases.Look back at the many catches he has missed,and lots that he misjudged.
I'll take BJ any day for fielding.
There are two worth the mney,and that's Longoria,and Pena.

[KennyNance]

Now we just need to trade the overrated, CC, the overachieved, JB, and the big name, PB, and we might be ok in 2 years. Buy low sell high. Oh, guys, the Aki deal was goign to happen. Why would the Rays resign him? they have about 78 guys who play middle infield between 2a and majors. Aki wasnt giong to start next year, and to be honest he wasnt even giong to be the backup. If we dont pick up his option, we lose something like 500,000 dollars. Trading him was only logical. They're lucky they got anything for him period (.). Make some more logical moves this off season and we could be a contender next year, CC, JB, PB. Remember guys, what do we like more, rings or loyalty to our favorite Rays. Its a business. I want to see rings.

[Dick Weed]

You're confused Skippy. That was true a year ago......not now. The Tampa K Rays.

[skp]

some geniuses here in the comment section. aki was my favorite ray, but even i have to admit zobrist brings more to the 2B position, and there's the kid rodriguez who can't be stashed in durham. aki was going to be sent packing no matter what, it sucks that his free agency has basically been delayed by a year, but this was the right move by the rays under the circumstances. someone had to go, and it wasn't going to be our 2009 MVP (BenZo) or the cornerstone of the kazmir trade (rodriguez)....we have one of the best offensive and defensive infields in baseball at the moment, and the price you pay is having to let $5 mil reserves move on.

you'll be missed, aki, we appreciate the part you played in bringing respectability to this franchise!

[Tone]

The Delmon Young trade was amazing, But the moves they have made since prove that it was luck. They are making moves that make Yanks/Sox fans cheer. Now they can keep the winning cap at 80 or 85 if they are lucky. Fat Burrell, Maddon, Owners, and the GM all suck. Keep working for the Yanks Andy and co. You are doing good work for Hal and George.

[tbird]

Thought that Joecool's response to Tone's post was spot on! As for the actual trade, it was one that needed to be made as the Rays really had little or no room for Aki anymore and why not get someone, anyone in return. True, he may turn out to be a disaster in the already maligned pen but that's the chance you take. People keep mentioning Burrell and his $9 mill salary this year. That alone is why Aki has to go--they have to free up that potential $4 mill loss; that $$ can go to CC's contract, another free agent; perhaps a catcher or closer. Make no mistake on this deal and there should be no spin about it-- it was a salary issue. If Aki was being paid $600k, he would be back for spring training as a Ray. This does give hint that the Rays will give RF to Joyce and it is his to lose. Also looks like Rodriguez is being preliminarily penned in for "utility" work like Z was last year but from all reports from Angel camp and MLB pundits, Rodriguez has the tools to become something special and very soon! So, if Joyce doesn't produce in RF and Rodriguez comes along quickly, we could see Ben back in RF and Rodriguez at second. Still need a quality catcher and a definitive closer--ooops, forgot we need a DH and probably, if memory serves correctly, a centerfielder..

[Dick Weed]

A couple of you can put a lipstick on a pig all you want (I'd hate to see your wives). It only works--along with the Kazmir salary dump--if they re-sign CC. The Jackson/Joyce deal sucked also because they didn't want to pay Edwin more $$$. So they traded two frontline starters and kept the totally inept Sonny. Yes, steroid Ben is on the roster but Aki would have given them more flexibility. These Wall Street whiners will keep complaining about lack of attendance after CC bolts and they keep that loser Burrell. It's getting to be just as messy as the Bucs and Lightning.

[Razzlegator]

JMS.com
Brace yourself; I agree with you. Aki was gone, with a half mil plus and we get nothing. Why Pittsburgh made this deal is the question that should be asked.

[joemaddonsucks.com]

I don't understand how Rays fans that actually watch the Rays don't see this as a positive thing. Aki has left memories, but realistically, he struck out over 100 times a year when he plays a full season and didn't come near Zobrist's effect on the lineup. Having Zobrist to play 2nd, with Brignac and Rodriguez as backups, the Rays weren't going to spend the 4.85 mil on a 3rd string 2nd baseman, and instead of losing him for nothing, they got a quality young reliever under team control for 5 more years. This team needs bullpen help, and Aki wasn't going to be here anyways. It doesn't need starting pitching, the Rays are loaded with young starters, they need pen help, and this trade is a step in the right direction. That frees up more funds for other bullpen help and arbitration cases this season like Bartett, who is sure to get a large bump. Smart deal by the Rays, even if the pitcher fails, they lost nothing as Zobrist became such a better defensive 2nd baseman last year he actually outdid Aki on offense and defense, and is under club control for 4 more years, so what is all the complaining about.

[TerriC]

This is a horrible trade...and YES just like the old Rays...going CHEAP. They spend allllll that money on that bum from Philadelphia - PatBurrell and will not spend the money on a quality player...consistent. A closer to boot?? We need a GOOD starter. Someone who can pitch the entire game. This stinks, it really does. The best thing for us now would be for PatBurrell to show up for Spring Training in another teams uniform, 9 million he gets this year...JOKES. The owners had ONE good year. They got lucky. They don't know what they are doing.

[George]

O, not good. Aki's injury in Miami was the start of the downturn. This is very sad.

[galloway84]

Bad trade for the Rays. I wouldn't mind Doumit/T.Sanchez(top Pirates C prospect) and Capps. Jesse Chavez is a borderline version of Joe Nelson/Lance Cormier. Jim Hickey and the rest of Rays AAA staff will ruin him too. Don't like it a bit.

[TriplePlay]

Typical salary dump. We'll see if this bites the Rays. Are the Rays right now stronger due to this trade? That's a big fat no.

Time will tell.

[Rays Renegade]

This deal fits a need for both teams.
Chavez only was scored on once in his last 9 appearances of 2009 for the Pirates.
Could be just the middle innings guy the Rays need. Plus he was only about 12 innings short of setting the Pirates team Rookie record for innings.
Hate to see Aki go, but that is a reality of a small market team. Some of the solid guys get jettisoned from time to time.
But, the Rays have started right by filling the Bullpen first. Good move Andrew!

[Jack]

Sad thing about baseball is that the Red Sox Spent 5-8 mil for Smoltz and Penny. They were going to be available for about a half season, but Theo looked at it as only a small contract that if it doesn't work out, it's only a small contract so oh well. I thought that the Pirates were a small market club also. WAKE UP MLB SALARY CAP NEEDED

[Jaydub204]

This is going to come back and bite the Rays. How do you not pick up the option for such a versatile, powerful player for under $5 mil?! They're so close to being able to get back to the big dance, and now they decide to get cheap. Just like the old days...

[joecool5]

So Tone, you hate the only owners and GM who have produced back to back winning seasons for the Rays?

[Tone]

They are retarded, signed Burrell for WAY too much and they are ditching Aki. Aki is a huge piece of the team's soul, and he is a really good player. I hate these owners and GM. Hope they rot in hell with Madoff and all their evil NYC wall street pissants.

[firewes]

The St. Petersburg Rays? GatorSphere, I think you may have a bit of city envy. Remember, they're the TAMPA BAY Rays. Like every other team around here. TAMPA BAY. Get over it.

[GatorSphere]

I will NEVER forget Aki making an unassisted out, the 3rd out of the 9th inning in Game 7 to win the game and send St. Petersburg's Rays to the World Series. Aki is a solid ballplayer, he will be missed sorely. Go Rays!

[TriplePlay]

This will be a mistake by the Rays.

[KennyNance]

The Reds wouldnt move Phillips to SS. Anyways guys, Aki is also a natural 3b, so it could be 10 teams who either need a 3b or a 2b. And lets be realistic here. Dont expect a closer, or a prospect, the Rays are dumping Aki and the team whos getting him knows it. It will more than likely be for another player who is being dumped or a 30 year old minor leaguer, or "cash considerations" somewhere along those lines. They are giving him away so we dont have to pay for him. Some team gets Aki, we in return dont have to pay him 5 million.

[RyHammy]

Maybe to Reds...who then move Phillips to SS?!

Actually just heard it might be the Twins...dang.

[vbp06rsx]

Giants 2B= Freddy Sanchez who just signed an extension and Padres have david eckstein and kevin kouzmanoff at second and third base... a better guess would be the Twins or the Royals (would be nice to get soria, they have other people who can close and the Rays need a closer) but we'll have to wait and see.