Rays trade 2B Iwamura to Pirates

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The budget-conscious Tampa Bay Rays saved some money and added some promising bullpen help Tuesday night when they traded infielder Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-hander Jesse Chavez.

The Rays held a $4.85 million option on Iwamura for next season, but did not intend to pick it up because of the depth they have at second base.

“We’ve got areas we really need to try to address,” Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, specifically mentioning the bullpen and catcher as priorities.

Iwamura hit .290 with one homer and 22 RBIs in 69 games during the final season of a $7.7 million, three-year contract he signed after playing for the Yakalt Swallows in Japan. He signed with the Rays as a free agent in December 2006.

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