Rays close to trading Iwamura to Pirates

Sporting News staff reports The Tampa Bay Rays eased their middle infield logjam a bit today by agreeing to trade Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  FOXSports.com and ESPN.com report the Rays will receive right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez.  The Rays must first contact Iwamura, who is in Japan, and officially exercise its $4.85 million club option for 2010, before the deal can be finalized, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Both could happen as early as tonight. The club was not expected to re-sign Iwamura and would have had to pay a $550,000 buyout if it wasn't able to trade him.  Iwamura, who missed three months this season because of a knee injury, can play second base and third base. He likely will play second base in Pittsburgh: The Bucs dealt longtime second baseman Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants in August, and Andy LaRoche developed into a steady third baseman.  Tampa Bay ... (link)