According to the St. Pete Times the Tampa Bay Rays are going to trade Akinori Iwamura before the end of the World Series. The reason is that the Rays would have to pick up his option or buy him out the day after the World Series. It seems as if the Twins are the best fit for him as they have holes all over the infield.

According to the St. Pete Times the Tampa Bay Rays are going to trade Akinori Iwamura before the end of the World Series. The reason is that the Rays would have to pick up his option or buy him out the day after the World Series. It seems as if the Twins are the best fit for him as they have holes all over the infield.

 

 

 

If Iwamura's salary figures looked different, I bet the Marlins would be all over this. He'd be a solid fit.

Can he still play third?

 

I don't see exactly why the Marlins would need him. He's like a .740 OPS. The Marlins would be better off just keeping Cantu and moving Coghlan to second base. I don't see him being used in a utility role. I think maybe the Orioles could be a team that might be interested. They just declined Melvin Mora's option.

Can he still play third?

 

I don't see exactly why the Marlins would need him. He's like a .740 OPS. The Marlins would be better off just keeping Cantu and moving Coghlan to second base. I don't see him being used in a utility role. I think maybe the Orioles could be a team that might be interested. They just declined Melvin Mora's option.

 

 

 

Well, that's what I was thinking...not sure, though, really.

Aki's actually a natural 3rd baseman. He went to 2B because of Longoria.

Well, perhaps we should rephrase the question: can he play third base adequately? (I don't know).

 

Even if he can, that offense (no power, mid-low .700s OPS) insinuates that he is perhaps better suited as a 2B than a 3B.

 

I would pass on him. I would rather try to resign Nick Johnson for that money.

I kinda agree with Pinguino (he doesn't have the power for the position, but he'd be an upgrade over whatever we have I think) but it's a moot point, Rays are sending him to the Pirates.

Well, perhaps we should rephrase the question: can he play third base adequately? (I don't know).

 

Even if he can, that offense (no power, mid-low .700s OPS) insinuates that he is perhaps better suited as a 2B than a 3B.

 

I would pass on him. I would rather try to resign Nick Johnson for that money.

 

 

Agreed.

Well, perhaps we should rephrase the question: can he play third base adequately? (I don't know).

 

Even if he can, that offense (no power, mid-low .700s OPS) insinuates that he is perhaps better suited as a 2B than a 3B.

 

I would pass on him. I would rather try to resign Nick Johnson for that money.

 

 

Going by UZR he's an average 3b.

 

if TB ate, like, half of his money, and we gave up barely anything (And Jesse Chavez is barely anything), I think it'd be cool. Yeah, less offense than cantu, but better defense, and more importantly would be making a lot less money. I just sour more and more on the amount Cantu will be making in arbitration.

Pittsburgh traded a bullpen arm for him.

 

Its kind of weird for Pitt to take on that salary unless they are going to try to ship him off before the deadline for a higher price.

Pittsburgh traded a bullpen arm for him.

 

Its kind of weird for Pitt to take on that salary unless they are going to try to ship him off before the deadline for a higher price.

 

 

If by higher price you mean Matt Morris, then yeah, probably.