Devil Rays Sign Akinori Iwamura

UPDATE: It's official: three years for $7.7MM, club option at $4.25MM for 2010.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times tells us that third baseman Akinori Iwamura is "on the verge" of being signed to a three-year deal by the Devil Rays.  The deal will be something like three years, $7.5MM  guaranteed, I've heard.  Add in the $4.55MM posting fee if you like and they're getting him for roughly $4MM annually.  Not bad at all.

The Devil Rays have a bit of a crowded infield - Iwamura, Greg Norton, Ty Wigginton, Jorge Cantu, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton could all fight for PT.  Norton, Iwamura, and Upton can play the outfield as well, and some space could be freed if Cantu and/or Rocco Baldelli are traded.

Comments

[bravesrule14]

i think the D'rays could have a good team next year

[wood34]

i agree.

I don't see them competing in the AL East, but they have some nice hitters.

[angelfan]

What a great signing.

Sure, the guy probably won't duplicate his Japanese numbers, but I bet he'll be at least league-average, which, for $4 million annually, is a great deal for the D-Rays. I'm impressed.

[Baseballfan79]

now will it be upton or baldelli moved for a pitcher

[ejruiz777]

Tampa Bay will remain nothing but potential until they back off their unrealistic trade demands and actually acquire some pitching help. They should trade Baldelli or Crawford to the Braves for a package inluding Davies or James respectively and Baldelli, Dukes or Upton to the Marlins for at least one proven starer, not for whatever else they think they're worth. The truth is that what they get in return, even if it's less than what they might want, will do more good for the franchise than keeping all of their position players. I hope that losing Lugo for nothing this offseason will help them forget the Kazmir-for-Zambrano deal that apparently spoiled them before.

[Brickhaus]

A) They didn't lose Lugo for nothing. They traded him for Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedrozia.

B) Everything coming from the local TB news says that the Rays are just asking for a proven starter. They have not been offered a proven starter. They've been offered Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Davies w/ Salty (they've come out and said they'd trade Rocco for Chuck James and Salty), Dustin McGowan, and guys of that caliber. There was one report that they were offered Olsen, which was quickly denied by Marlins brass. The RMN said they're looking for 2 starters and a shortstop, and Miami said they're looking for 2 starters. I'm not 100% sure what quality of people the Marlins or Rockies were offering that that's what they came back with, but considering the logjam the Rays already have at the back end of the rotation, those requests don't even make sense.

Point is, I don't think they're looking to rape someone; I think they're looking for a deal they think improves the team, and that deal hasn't been offered yet. There has yet to be a single offer for a proven starter, unless you believe the Olsen rumor (I'm sorry, but Davies, McGowan and Nolasco aren't exactly proven starters). I'm sure that once a decent offer is made, they'd be willing to make the move.

[wihargo]

If you look at what is wrong with the Devil Rays it isn't just pitching. This isn't some team that is scoring 9 runs a right and still losing. This was the teams with the WORST OFFENSE in the AL. Trading away the only players who have "proven" they can produce runs (ie Baldelli and Crawford)would be nuts.
Its like you come up to me and tell me you want to buy my beater of a car for $500, cause that is all that it is worth to you. But its how I get to work. Yeah, I need money, but now what? Am I supposed to get fired?

The Rays should take the time to see what players like Gomes, Upton, Baldelli, Young, Iwamura, Cantu etc can do when they are actually healthy before they decide to start moving pieces.

[Baseballfan79]

I think Nolasco will be a solid 3 in the majors. He was hurt this year and solid overall for a pitcher (not a serious injury but did affect his pitching). But, I believe he was offered with parts to the Drays for Baldelli or Upton. But that was durring the GM Meetings and supposedly they havent talked since.

But yes that Olsen rumor was denied quickly. I think it will be interesting whom they send where.

What is the market now for CF? Who actually needs one now and has parts to give up anything really and logically?

Atlanta will need one after next year but really they need pitching.

CWS - Traded off 2 pitchers, really doesnt make sense to move more.

Houston - Burke, Lane and Pence soon ready so doesnt fit and needs pitching

LAA - got mathews to fill out the OF and has said wont move ervin or weaver

Colorado - now has Taveras for CF

Baltimore - in division? They have patterson whom is fine

LAD - ?? They have Kemp ready next year and just signed JP

Texas - just signed Lofton to fill the hole for now.

Really who needs CF's still (besides the fish) and has arms to move?

They sorta waited too long and some of the teams have moved themselves out of the market. And pitching expensives are going up too now in the market with Matz getting over 100 million total and zito going to get over 100 million total, Menche, Lilly, Eaton contracts being disgustingly overpriced. Those young 1st,2nd year potential 1-2s are a huge bargain now.

[pinetarhand]

I've heard rumors of the White Sox trading off a second SP, but I don't remember it happening yet. Did I miss something?

[wihargo]

The Rays should just wait. Just because the market sucks right now is no reason to go and jump at an offer you don't want. If you believe, as they might, that Baldelli's injuries are behind him, and that he can put up a line like 300/330/525 then just wait for the market to loosen up a bit. Knee injury here, huge slump there. someone is going to need a guy a good OF eventually.

[Droptop]

The Devil Rays caught Baseball sleeping on this one. Why the Angels weren't willing to win the bid and land this guy when they need a 3B(sorry, Figgins isn't it) is beyond me. The Giants would've been much better off to land this guy instead of bringing Feliz back for another year. Who is the Twins 3B again? What about the Astros, are they counting on Ensberg to bounce back? The Phillies instead of signing Wes...The White Sox want to ship Crede...

I just love this signing by the Devil Rays, the guy was a stud in Japan and sure the numbers most likely wont entirely carry over but I don't see them falling off entirely either. He impressed me in the World Baseball Classic.

[nickjs21]

Yeah I wish the Indians had gotten him, he can play everyday OF and would have been a great defensive backup to Peralta.

Speaking of Upton, he has to move to 2nd, doesn't he? It's my understanding his defense is just awful and it's because of his throwing. I could be completely wrong though--I'm not going to pretend I've studied tape.

[Brickhaus]

Upton's defensive problems are really linked to two things: his brain and his footwork. He does lanuch balls when he overthinks a play, and he muffs balls because his footwork doesn't put him in position to make plays. Having seen a lot of Upton in the minors, I always thought he would do better at 3B because you don't need as much fancy footwork there, and you generally don't have as much to overthink plays because you're closer to home plate and need to throw further, but after watching him play 3B for a month and a half, I'm pretty convinced that he's an OF. Personally, I think he'd be worse at 2B than at short because even more footwork is required at that position...

[Baseballfan79]

2nd base is a defensive first position, moving BJ there would be horrible. Put him in CF where his OPS will become a benefit (if he hits as good as he could potentially be), hopefully not a 260s again.

[nickjs21]

Seems to suggest the trade of an OF (or Upton himself) is even more likely then, right? And actually, if you trade an OF, I don't see how you don't give Dukes the playing time.

[nickjs21]

And historically, there have been players that were horrible left-infield defenders who, moved to 2nd, shined.

[davemac]

Really Nick? I can't think of any just now...

[nickjs21]

Well, OK, I've got one.

Lonny Frey of the Dodgers, was committing errors at a record pace at shortstop for his first few years in the bigs. They moved him to second, where he was suddenly an above-average defender, made the All-Star team, and won a couple pennants. (Thanks to BP for that)

I don't mean this to be the rule, more like the exception. But hey, it's not unheard of.

It's a non-issue, really. This team needs a trade to clear up room and get a pitcher, and Upton could be it.

[Devil Ray Boy]

Don't trade Rocco Baldelli. You can talk trade him for a proven starter. They will not do that. All they try to do is deal him for garbage so Friedman will anger the hardcore D Rays fans if that happens. I can not believe this stooge Andy Friedman did not trade Upton for Nolasco. I would have made that deal. Who else is out there? This Upton blows and let him play somewhere else because I don't miss him. He is in a same situation when Gary Sheffield was with Milwaukee. If you dangle around Crawford and Baldelli, they don't realize they have to fill in that hole that they left. If you want short term starting pitching, get Tony Armas Jr or Joel Piniero. Where is there thinking? I think Gerry Hunsicker should be doing the dealing; not this clown that they have right now(Friedman). Put this Iwamura at third where he played in Japan; don't start with this we need him at second, short, or outfield junk. Have a plan to stick with him at third and go with that plan. Here is my Rays lineup:

LF Crawford
CF Baldelli
RF Young
3B Iwamura
SS Zobrist
2B Cantu
1B Wigginton/Broussard(FA)
C Navarro
DH Gomes

SP Kazmir
SP Armas (FA)
SP Piniero or Mulder (FA)
SP Seo
SP Shields

RP Miceli
RP Ru Lugo
RP Switzer
RP R King (FA)
RP Mori
RP Reyes
RP Polliite (FA)
CP McClung

[Devil Ray Boy]

on list that I projected the 2007 Rays
I forgot RP D Riske (FA)

[giantspwner187]

I know Upton's defense is terrible at SS but wouldn't the DRays be better off with him there than Zobrist? I think that having him there would be smart because he'll be a better bat and it'll clear up room in the outfield. Also, I think that they need to give Dukes a shot at 1st over Wigginton or Norton because if the DRays are going to be good by the end of the decade, it isn't going to be with some washed up veteran who hits below league averages.