Seems like a decent deal for both teams. Pittsburgh gets a solid 2B and a decent price they can easily afford. Tampa Bay had to make a decision on Iwamura in a few days according to his contract, and it was either trade him and get value for him, decline his option, or pick up his option hoping someone will take him off their hands. Chavez seems sorta useful I guess.

Interesting - Iwamura is the highest paid Pirate.

Teams aren't supposed to do this during the WS - right?

Teams aren't supposed to do this during the WS - right?

Pirates don't believe in rules.

Cool. I am expecting this thread to be wall-to-wall people expressing their outrage that a team with no chance of winning has for some mad reason acquired a player making more than minimum salary, but Iwamura's salary is really reasonable and the Rays are both
- selling low on him
- not in any need of him, thus not feeling any pressure to get a big return.

I guess the Delwyn Young at 2B experiment was deemed unlikely to maximize their pitchers' chance of success.

#4 - the Pirates didn't give up very much for him. Chavez might improve, but he's unlikely to be more than a middle reliever. If healthy and playing everyday, Iwamura should help the Pirates - and give them someone to trade in July if a contender happens to be in big need of a middle infielder. If healthy but untraded, he should fetch them a sandwich pick at least. He wouldn't do that for the Rays, since they likely wouldn't be playing him, and he's paid too much to be a backup. Sort of a win-win trade.

Dammit, I was hoping the Twins would snag him.

I am expecting this thread to be wall-to-wall people expressing their outrage that a team with no chance of winning has for some mad reason acquired a player making more than minimum salary

Outrage, who has the energy anymore?

I'd think that an even trade is one that the Pirates lose by default. They need to destroy someone in a trade to have any shot.

Pirates don't believe in rules.

They're more what you'd call "guidelines."

Teams aren't supposed to do this during the WS - right?

If Iwamura to the Pirates upstages the World Series, something has gone terribly wrong with the World Series.

Is Iwamura about as good as Freddy Sanchez? If so, the Pirates traded Sanchez and Chavez for Iwamura and Alderson. Big win for Pittsburgh.

The Yankees are one game away from winning. I think it goes without saying that something has gone terribly wrong with the World Series.

Normally Id be one of the people wondering why the Pirates are trading for a vet with 1 year left on his deal, but yeah hes pretty cheap and Chavez seems to be just another back of the bullpen mopup guy that gives up too many homers and is already 26 so I don't think his future value to the Pirates is very high either. But I've never seen Chavez pitch, so he might have decent potential. He throws hard anyways.

For the Rays it seems alright to get anything back for a guy that would probably be a pretty expensive secondary player for them, but I feel like they could have gotten something more in return.

I like the timing of this, perhaps as a slap in the face to AROD for his opting out of his contract during the 07 Series. Way to stick it to Cashman, Neil Huntington!

And Iwamura is now the highest paid Pirate? How much do they get in revenue sharing anyway?

Technically. Paul Maholm will make $4.5 million in 2010, Matt Capps if tendered a contract will make than the $3 million he got this year. Zach Duke will make more than his $2.2 million that he earned in 2009 due to arbitration. Doumit makes $3.5 million in 2010, Ramon Vasquez gets $2 million in 2010. And everyone else on the Pirates 40 man roster is going to earn less than a million in 2010.

Teams aren't supposed to do this during the WS - right?

Iwamura's contract, which was signed before the Boras/Rodriguez brouhaha, calls for a decision on his option to be made by the day after after the WS, so the deal had to be done. Adam Eaton declaring free agency? That's upstaging the post-season.

Zach Duke is still arbitration-eligible? Jesus. I seriously would have guessed, if asked, that he was in his 9th year or so.

Well, he's only 26.

Maybe you have him conflated with Kip Wells and/or Josh Fogg.

Zach Duke only started arbitration this year, so it looks like he has two more years of arbitration before he becomes a FA.

Iwamura is one of my favorite players to watch. I think the Pirates made a nice pickup here. Plus he fits their idea that an infielder should play 2nd, 3rd and sometimes shortstop for reasons only they can understand.

Based on the Ibanez Principal, he should hit .315 next season.

Based on the Ibanez Principal

Are you accusing Iwamura of doing steroids?

AG#1 - I think your Royals missed an opportunity here, assuming he is healthy this would have been a great upgrade over Callaspo. I think their net value is similar, but they Royals need defense so badly.

The Yankees are one game away from winning. I think it goes without saying that something has gone terribly wrong with the World Series.

Not only that, but the Phillies are two games away from winning. This whole thing is a disaster. They should just call it off.

AG#1 - I think your Royals missed an opportunity here, assuming he is healthy this would have been a great upgrade over Callaspo. I think their net value is similar, but they Royals need defense so badly.


Iwamura never played for the Braves or Mariners though.

Solid pickup for the Pirates. Can't go wrong getting good cheap talent if you don't give up much.

A better question is why the Cubs weren't all over this. We need a 2B, we tend to have lots of live, young arms, surely we could beat this offer.

Does Chavez have potential to do better? He throws pretty hard (avg fb 94.5) but his 2009 was uninspiring and his strikeouts at AA/AAA were more in the good not great category (tick under 8 per 9 in 284 IP). Does he throw a hard, straight fb?

Otherwise, it would seem like he has some value, with two pre-arb years remaining.

Mark Teahen traded for Chris Getz and Josh Fields.

Mark Teahen traded for Chris Getz and Josh Fields.

That's an interesting deal for both teams. The Royals get a little depth (crappy depth, to be sure) but there's some upside there. And the Sox get a guy who can play multiple positions and has slugged over .500 at Cellular.

Teahen seems like a waste in an outfield corner, but if he plays third and Beckham plays second, the Sox improve their lineup. The Royals save some money, I guess.

A better question is why the Cubs weren't all over this. We need a 2B, we tend to have lots of live, young arms, surely we could beat this offer.

isn't the rumor that DeRosa is hoping to return to the Cubs?

I am expecting this thread to be wall-to-wall people expressing their outrage that a team with no chance of winning has for some mad reason acquired a player making more than minimum salary

I think this board has improved much over the past couple of years, to the point that people finally understand that to maintain any fan base you have to at least make the illusion you are trying to improve. Plus as mentioned, it's not a big contract, this isn't like they are spending a lot of money.

I find it hilarious that Iwamura is interested in a long-term deal. Perhaps he's just saying the right things but so soon after being traded....

Doesn't Iwamura have an unrepaired knee injury? I'd want a long-term deal too if I was a 30 year old 2B with a knee injury.

I find it hilarious that Iwamura is interested in a long-term deal. Perhaps he's just saying the right things but so soon after being traded....

Relative to signing a long-term deal with the Pirates 5 years ago, it looks like a 2500% better idea now than before. The Pirates have (finally) some very young, very good pieces like McCutchen and Alvarez. I still think the McLouth trade was unnecessary and counterproductive, but other than that, it is very difficult to argue with what NH has been doing. The entire Pirate organization needed an overhaul that was pretty much 20 years in the making. It's about time that someone is actually doing it.

"I still think the McLouth trade was unnecessary and counterproductive..."

Morton looked pretty good in the rotation this year, and I don't think that's his best, either.

I still think the McLouth trade was unnecessary and counterproductive, but other than that, it is very difficult to argue with what NH has been doing.

Well, we all know Nate's your boy, Russ :) I still think the deal for McLouth is going to work out to Pittsburgh's benefit in the long run.

-- MWE

Relative to signing a long-term deal with the Pirates 5 years ago, it looks like a 2500% better idea now than before.

Oh, no doubt. It's certainly not inconceivable that the Pirates will be contenders in the next few years and there's a lot to like about what NH has been doing (my favorite is the Indian pitchers). I just found it strange that Iwamura would get traded from a contending team to a crappy one (albeit a rebuilding one that's smarter than it was) and say he's interested in staying long-term.

Of course, I have no idea what goes on in ballplayers' heads. Coco Crisp won a ring in Boston but recently said that he loves it in KC and he hopes he stays.

I still think the deal for McLouth is going to work out to Pittsburgh's benefit in the long run.

I think that completely depends on Morton. Locke and/or Hernandez COULD work out, but this is all about whether Morton's WAR > McLouth's WAR in the long run. I like Morton's potential and his walk rate has improved substantially during his career, but I still think that his control could be a problem long-term.

It's too bad that Nate got hurt his year, as I think that it really affected his performance in ATL. I hope that doesn't decrease his playing time for next year.

Am I missing something, or is no one talking about the possibility of Sean Rodriguez becoming the TBA 2B? Zobrist had a great year & all, but I'd still consider him a pleasant surprise more than a permanent answer to a lineup-hole question. Also, assuming Zobrist's bat still plays, TBA might be better putting him in at RF (with all due apologies to the Gabes) instead of 2B.

Am I missing something, or is no one talking about the possibility of Sean Rodriguez becoming the TBA 2B?

It's possible, but the plan right now is to have Brignac and Rodriguez compete for the Zobrist role.

-- MWE

I think that completely depends on Morton. Locke and/or Hernandez COULD work out, but this is all about whether Morton's WAR > McLouth's WAR in the long run.

I think that the Pirates will get enough out of Morton and one of Locke or Hernandez to make up for McLouth, and if both Locke and Hernandez pan out they'll look REALLY smart.

-- MWE