http://www.fantasysp.com/mlb_player_news/Akinori_Iwamura FantasySP / MLB / Akinori Iwamura Copyright 2009 621914 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that new Pirate second baseman Akinori Iwamura said in a conference call on Tuesday that he would be interested in exploring a long-term deal with the team. Iwamura played in only 69 games last season due to a knee injury.

Our View: Iwamura sounded excited to be with the Pirates, but what else is he going to say? He was in a great situation in Tampa, and now he is with a perennial loser in the Pirates. He should be in line for a bounce back season, however, playing in the National League. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621914 621914 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:02 EDT fanball.com 17 days 16 hours 18 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621914 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Akinori Iwamura said he's interested in exploring a long-term deal with the team. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621833 621833 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:16:01 EDT kffl.com 17 days 16 hours 58 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621833 After trading away Freddy Sanchez in July, the Pirates were left with no strong internal replacements at second base. With Iwamura in tow, the Pirates now have their immediate answer. Delwyn Young got his chance to be the team's everyday second baseman for the final two months, but even after intensive daily defensive work with infield coach Perry Hill, Young was not seen as the optimal choice for next season. Iwamura was limited to only 69 games in '09 and needed left knee surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. Huntington said that the Pirates have not independently examined Iwamura's knee, but that all the medical reports suggest that there will be no lingering issues. His departure from Tampa Bay enables Ben Zobrist or Reid Brignac to move to second base on a full-time basis. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621576 621576 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 8:12:14 EDT mlb.com 17 days 20 hours 2 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621576 News: After a trade with the Rays on Tuesday, the Pirates are gambling $4.85 million, plus right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez, with the hope that 2B Akinori Iwamura will heal from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that sidelined him for three months this season. Iwamura, 30, played the final month of the season despite not being fully healthy. "It feels very good, but it's still not 100 percent," Iwamura said, speaking through interpreter Yoshi Hasegawa, his agent. "But I proved last year I can still play at a high level. I think I can play just like I did in the World Series. It will be fine next season, completely healthy." [...] http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621203 621203 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 0:08:11 EDT CBSSports.com 18 days 4 hours 6 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/621203 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said the team will approach 2B Akinori Iwamura about a contract extension after the team exercised his $4.85 million option for 2010. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619827 619827 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:44:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 16 hours 30 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619827 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Andy LaRoche will remain at third base after the acquisition of 2B Akinori Iwamura. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619826 619826 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:44:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 16 hours 30 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619826 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates 2B/OF Delwyn Young will return to a bench role after the acquisition of 2B Akinori Iwamura. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619825 619825 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:44:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 16 hours 30 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619825 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Akinori Iwamura will be the starting second baseman, and the team has already discussed having him hit second. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619824 619824 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:44:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 16 hours 30 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619824 Updating previous reports, the Tampa Tribune's Tony Fabrizio reports the Tampa Bay Rays didn't get equal trade value for 2B Akinori Iwamura, but the deal was influenced by the fact that the team doesn't have to pay him a $550,000 buyout for his $4.85 million option. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619713 619713 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:16:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 17 hours 58 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619713 Iwamura has played the past three seasons with the Rays after nine years in Japan. The 30-year-old batted .290 with 19 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs in 69 games in '09, a season shortened by a left knee injury. Iwamura, a six-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star in Japan, signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay on Dec. 15, 2006, that included a club option for '10. The Rays were expected to decline that option, so they opted to move Iwamura and add the 26-year-old Chavez, who is coming off his first full Major League season. Chavez led the Pirates with 73 appearances while posting a 4.01 ERA and a 47/22 K/BB ratio in 67 1/3 innings. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619706 619706 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:04:14 EDT mlb.com 18 days 18 hours 10 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619706 Updating previous reports, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports the Pittsburgh Pirates will likely get another player with 2B Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for RP Jesse Chavez. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619626 619626 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 9:08:02 EDT kffl.com 18 days 19 hours 6 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619626 News: The budget-conscious Rays saved some money and added some promising bullpen help Tuesday night when they traded 2B Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for RHP 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. [...] http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619491 619491 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 2:52:13 EDT CBSSports.com 19 days 1 hours 22 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619491 Dave Cameron and R.J. Anderson have broken the news on the regular blog, but if you haven’t heard, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the process acquiring Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Jesse Chavez.Dave and R.J. have already discussed the value to their real life teams, but what does this do for [...] http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619086 619086 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:32:02 EDT fangraphs.com 19 days 6 hours 42 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619086 The Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619082 619082 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:28:02 EDT foxsports.com 19 days 6 hours 46 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619082 The Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619022 619022 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:28:01 EDT foxsports.com 19 days 7 hours 46 minutes http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Akinori_Iwamura/619022