Trade Analysis: Pirates pick up Iwamura

Akinori Iwamura will try to help the Pirates get back in the swing of things. When the Pirates traded for Akinori Iwamura on Tuesday night, sending righthanded reliever Jesse Chavez to Tampa Bay, then exercised the second baseman’s 2010 option, Iwamura became the highest-paid Pirate at $4.85 million for 2010. It’s an instant upgrade for Pittsburgh, as after Freddy Sanchez was dealt to the Giants this past summer, the quartet of Ramon Vazquez, Delwyn Young, Brian Bixler and Luis Cruz combined to hit .218 with four homers and 26 RBI in 285 at-bats, 222 of them by Young, who hit .311 with a .385 on-base percentage in 132 at-bats in a part-time role before the All-Star break, but struggled when pressed into everyday service. Young going back to the bench, with his ability to play the corner outfield spots as well as second base, also provides a much-needed boost for the Pirates. Iwamura was batting .310 when he hurt his knee in a collision in Miami on May 24, and returned to hit ... (link)