Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that "a handful of clubs have expressed some level of interest" in Akinori Iwamura. When the Pirates designated the infielder for assignment last week, it became apparent that they would eat most of the $2.4MM owed to Iwamura in any deal.
Realistically, the Pirates have to absorb salary if they want to move Iwamura. The 31-year-old hit .182/.292/.267 in 193 plate appearances this year. That's a steep drop from his established level of production (.281/.354/.393 entering the season), so teams could think of Iwamura as a good buy-low candidate, or a player in steep decline.
The Rockies, Angels and Twins are among the teams that could use infield help. Most clubs have not been interested, but Huntington said he expects some closure early this week.
What about a Rays reunion?
The Ray don’t need him they have Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria for their second baseman and third baeman
The Pirates should be ecstatic if they get some batting practice balls for Aki at this point.
what about th Yankees? Pena’s glove is good, but it hasnt been that good this year, and with A-rod hurting, we cant keep Pena’s bat in the line-up as much as we might have to. Plus, he has options left, so we can send him to him minors, and only be willing to pay the min. for Iwamura, and then if he doesnt work out, it wont be a problem cutting him and calling Pena right back up
Aki might have a better track record with the bat than Pena, but his current season makes me think that he wouldn’t be any better than Pena. Personally, if Girardi has intentions of trying to play Posada at C and ask Cashman to pursue a DH type, I would like him to call the O’s and see if they’d trade Wigginton inside the division. Ty is capable of playing 3B (although I know not very well) and his bat would play at DH. JeterGardnerTeixA-RodCanoWiggintion SwisherPosadaGranderson I don’t know who would slot in the 2 hole, probably a rotation of Gardner/Swisher/Granderson.
And if I were to predict who picks up Iwamura on the cheap, my guess would be the Rockies.
Send him to the Twins for Brendan Harris and hope a change of scenery helps them both. The Twins would take on salary if the Pirates don’t pick up anything, but the Pirate would be stuck with Harris for 2011. The Twins don’t need another LH bat, but they could use a better IF option than Harris, Tolbert, Plouffe or Valencia. At least Akinori plays better defense than Harris.
Oh, please, no! Iwamura does nothing for the Twins. As you point out, he’s a left handed bat on a team that doesn’t need more left handed hitters. Harris is struggling to be sure, but bringing in Iwamura to replace him is no solution. With Punto and Tolbert, the Twins are well stocked with back-up and utility infielders. They still need a productive starter at 3B but that isn’t Iwamura. Hudson is back from his injury and now owns 2B which is Iwamura’s best position.
Iwamura isn’t a starter for the Twins. Neither is Harris, but I guess for the sole reason that the Twins wouldn’t make another move for 3B (I am hoping for Kouzmanoff) with Aki on the team, they shouldn’t make the move.
Iwamura isn’t a starter for the Twins. Neither is Harris, but I guess for the sole reason that the Twins wouldn’t make another move for 3B (I am hoping for Kouzmanoff) with Aki on the team, they shouldn’t make the move.
Somebody should definitely pick him up. There’s a productive player in there somewhere.
Maybe the Angels can use him for a short term solution at first base, and platoon with Napoli, then go after Berkman.
.182/.292/.267, that slash line isn’t acceptable from a catcher, let alone a first baseman.
That slash line is only acceptable from a pitcher but any team that shows interest in Iwamura at this point would have to believe that he will rebound somewhat to his former production but even then that bat shows little value first and it makes little sense putting Iwamura there when he can handle 3B/2B adequately.
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