Report: Bucs Close To Trade For Iwamura
November 3rd, 2009 | by SL |
While it’s not yet completed, several reports have the Bucs sending right handed reliever Jesse Chavez to the Tampa Bay Rays for 2B/3B Akinori Iwamura. If the trade is in fact a done deal, then the Pirates have taken a great first step in addressing a glaring hole in the infield.
Iwamura would become the club’s starting second baseman, a role that was filled by Delwyn Young last season after the departure of Freddy Sanchez to the Giants. Young was an adequate replacement at times, but spent much of the season learning to play the position. Iwamura is a slightly above average second baseman who was an integral part of a 2008 Tampa offense that surprised everyone by making it all the way to the World Series.
Iwamura missed most of last season with a knee injury, but is a career .281 hitter with only 22 errors committed in three MLB seasons.
More to follow as the story unfolds…
Update: The trade was made official. My internet connection has been down for 24 hours, that’s official, too.
