By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.(AP) -- The budget-conscious Tampa Bay Rays
saved some money and added some promising bullpen help Tuesday
night when they traded infielder Akinori Iwamura to the
Pittsburgh Pirates for right-hander Jesse Chavez.
The Rays held a $4.85 million option on Iwamura for next season,
but did not intend to pick it up because of the depth they have
at second base.
"We've got areas we really need to try to address," Rays
executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
said, specifically mentioning the bullpen and catcher as
priorities this offseason.
Iwamura hit .290 with one homer and 22 RBIs in 69 games during
the final season of a $7.7 million, three-year contract he
signed after playing for the Yakalt Swallows in Japan. He signed
with the Rays as a free agent in December 2006.
The 30-year-old missed 81 games this season after sustaining
partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in
his left knee. Once the Rays determined they were not going to
pick up his option for 2010, Friedman listened to offers for a
trade.
"Pittsburgh has been all over us for about a month," Friedman
said.
Chavez led Pittsburgh and all major league rookies with 73
appearances in 2009, going 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 67 1-3
innings. He was taken in the 42nd round in 2002 by Texas, and
made his major league debut with the Pirates with 15 appearances
in 2008.
The Rays believe the 26-year-old has the potential to develop
into an outstanding reliever.
"This year was a good year," Friedman said. "We feel like he has
the tools and ability to have an even better year."
Iwamura was a five-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove third
baseman in Japan. In three seasons in Tampa Bay, he batted .281
with 14 homers, 104 RBIs and 29 stolen bases while playing third
base for one year and second for the past two.
His unselfish transition from third to second base in 2008 - a
move that opened a position for All-Star Evan Longoria - was one
of the keys to Tampa Bay's transformation from a perennial
last-place team into AL champions.
"It is hard to put into words what Aki has meant to the
organization," Friedman said.
The Pirates badly needed a second baseman after trading NL
All-Star Freddy Sanchez to Giants before the trading deadline.
"He is a good athlete with above-average speed and is a tough
out with a solid career on-base percentage," Pirates general
manager Neal Huntington said. "Additionally, he played Gold
Glove-caliber third base for years in Japan and has made a
smooth transition to second base."
Pittsburgh takes on Iwamura's option, which the Pirates can pay
because their already low payroll was trimmed when they dealt
Sanchez, Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson, Nate McLouth, Njyer Morgan
and Eric Hinske during the season.
Coming off a major league-record 17th consecutive losing season
in which they lost 99 games, the Pirates also needed to make a
move to at least appease a dwindling fan base that was angered
by yet another season of player departures.
Former Dodgers utilityman Delwyn Young filled in at second base
after Sanchez was traded, but struggled defensively and slumped
badly at the plate late in the season. The Pirates' top second
base prospect, Chase d'Arnaud, isn't close to being ready for
the majors.
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AP Sports Writer Alan Robinson in Pittsburgh contributed to this
report.
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