Multiple sources are reporting that the Pirates and Tampa Bay have completed a trade, that quite frankly I don't understand. The deal would bring the Pirates second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the Pirates will send Tampa Bay reliever Jesse Chavez in return.
Chavez, 26, posted a 4.01 ERA in 67 innings for the Bucs.
Iwamura, 30, hit .291 in an injury-plagued 2009 season. The deal will be a sign and trade one because Tampa holds a $4.85 million club option on Iwamura. Iwamura played 3 seasons with the Rays. He was a third baseman in 2007 then moved to second base in 2009. Last year, he played in only 69 games after injuring his knee in late May. He rejoined the team for the final month of the season.
Iwamura has hit .281 with 103 RBIs in 344 career games over 3 seasons.
I don't understand the Pirates trading a relief pitcher that they have control over until 2014. Chavez threw the ball 94-95 MPH and was thought to be a candidate to be the closer next season. Something must have happened over the last couple months of the season to turn the Pirates opinion of Chavez.
I'm assuming Iwamura fills the Pirates need for a second baseman. I guess they've come to the opinion that Delwyn Young is nothing more than a bench player.
No official comment yet from the Pirates.
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