Akinori Iwamura News

Delwyn Young's reaction to the deal that brought second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates last week is simple: It is what it is.

There's a decided trend thus far in the early offseason. The Rays have traded Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for a cost-controlled young reliever, despite a big talent gap between the two players.

As the Akinori Iwamura-Jesse Chavez trade was announced just over a week ago, the e-mails started arriving in a flurry.

Do you think Jake McGee will see some time in the Major Leagues next year? I know he had Tommy John surgery, but a lefty who throws mid-to-high 90s is always a good commodity.

Longtime Triple-A manager and former big-league bench coach Bill Evers will return to the field as co-minor-league field coordinator as the Rays shuffled and bumped up their minor-league staff.

The Rays got the ball rolling with last week's trade of defensively gifted second baseman Akinori Iwamura , and they have a potential outfield replacement ready for Crawford in Desmond Jennings.

Now that the Yankees are celebrating this year's championship, the Rays can start the real work in trying to win the next one.

The biggest story of the offseason can't be made official until the World Series is over, because god forbid we talk about anything other than the Yankees.A But still it IS a pretty huge freakin' deal when the 23rd Greatest Devil Ray Ever , Akinori Iwamura gets dealt to deepest coal-darkened Pittsburgh .

The "sign and trade" of Akinori Iwamura is another example of the Rays getting creative in order to acquire new talent.

Despite the anxious wishes of Twins' fans everywhere, the Twins have yet to make their first move this offseason.

Hold on to your hats folks but the Rays' have traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura, not to the Dodgers or Cubs as first speculated, but to the cash-strapped, last place Pirates.

As Tampa Bay Rays followers, we knew it wouldn't be long. As the Yankees close in our their latest purchase of another World Series, there's a stark realization that Tampa Bay fans must face.

Akinori Iwamura isn't going to make the Pirates a winning baseball team. He's a nice player and a viable starting second baseman, provided he is healthy.

It's a pleasant, autumn day here at the Stadium, and the Yankees are holding what appears to be a relaxed workout.

What? It's a pirate. It's a story about pirates, and this is a picture of a pirate.

With a new owner in place and a disappointing 2009 season in the rearview mirror, speculation is Jim Hendry will have one year to turn things around on the North Side.

Can you please tell me why we bother shopping for a closer when we have J.P. Howell? I thought Howell did a fantastic job this year with the closer role and should be our full-time closer.

Rays officials had heard good things about Derek Shelton 's work and were even more impressed when they spoke with him.

I like the Rays bullpen, but they need to add a closer or add two more good arms or both.

All that's left to do now is sit back and watch. After a history-making 2008 season, the Rays couldn't recapture that magic to vault them back to the postseason in '09. So while the Yankees, Angels, Phillies and Dodgers duke it out in each league's Championship Series to eventually crown a World Series champion, all Tampa Bay's players can do is ...