Comments on: Rays Trading Iwamura to Pirates http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/2009/11/03/rays-trading-iwamura-to-pirates/ Covering America's Favorite Pastime Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:15:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MarkInDallas http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/2009/11/03/rays-trading-iwamura-to-pirates/comment-page-1/#comment-3846 MarkInDallas Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:49:49 +0000 http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/?p=10809#comment-3846 Considering Iwamura is very similar in value to Freddy Sanchez, whom they traded to the Giants at the deadline for one of their top pitching prospects, yes, it's quite probable that the Pirates could flip Aki for better than Chavez if they wish to. It also gives them an option that they could sign to a longer term contract if certain things play out. Consider that the Pirates' 2 best hitting prospects, Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata, are possibly going to be ready to appear mid year in Pittsburgh. Alvarez (23) is a power hitting 3B who will probably hit 30+ HR in MLB. Tabata (21) is a gap power high average OF. Put them together with 2009 ROY candidates Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen, and you see a real line up starting to come together. The wildcard is current 3B Andy LaRoche, who was alternately extremely hot and cold for long stretches of 2009 and finished with a OPS+ of 97. If LaRoche can have a breakout season in 2010, then Aki might become expendable and be dealt mid year. If LaRoche falters, though, it might be LaRoche who is dealt and Aki signed long term. In short, this move gives the Pirates options and allows them to adjust to whichever scenario plays out.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('3846','MarkInDallas'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('3846','MarkInDallas','Considering Iwamura is very similar in value to Freddy Sanchez, whom they traded to the Giants at the deadline for one of their top pitching prospects, yes, it\'s quite probable that the Pirates could flip Aki for better than Chavez if they wish to.\r\n\r\nIt also gives them an option that they could sign to a longer term contract if certain things play out.\r\n\r\nConsider that the Pirates\' 2 best hitting prospects, Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata, are possibly going to be ready to appear mid year in Pittsburgh. Alvarez (23) is a power hitting 3B who will probably hit 30+ HR in MLB. Tabata (21) is a gap power high average OF. Put them together with 2009 ROY candidates Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen, and you see a real line up starting to come together.\r\n\r\nThe wildcard is current 3B Andy LaRoche, who was alternately extremely hot and cold for long stretches of 2009 and finished with a OPS+ of 97. If LaRoche can have a breakout season in 2010, then Aki might become expendable and be dealt mid year. If LaRoche falters, though, it might be LaRoche who is dealt and Aki signed long term.\r\n\r\nIn short, this move gives the Pirates options and allows them to adjust to whichever scenario plays out.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Considering Iwamura is very similar in value to Freddy Sanchez, whom they traded to the Giants at the deadline for one of their top pitching prospects, yes, it’s quite probable that the Pirates could flip Aki for better than Chavez if they wish to.

It also gives them an option that they could sign to a longer term contract if certain things play out.

Consider that the Pirates’ 2 best hitting prospects, Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata, are possibly going to be ready to appear mid year in Pittsburgh. Alvarez (23) is a power hitting 3B who will probably hit 30+ HR in MLB. Tabata (21) is a gap power high average OF. Put them together with 2009 ROY candidates Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen, and you see a real line up starting to come together.

The wildcard is current 3B Andy LaRoche, who was alternately extremely hot and cold for long stretches of 2009 and finished with a OPS+ of 97. If LaRoche can have a breakout season in 2010, then Aki might become expendable and be dealt mid year. If LaRoche falters, though, it might be LaRoche who is dealt and Aki signed long term.

In short, this move gives the Pirates options and allows them to adjust to whichever scenario plays out.

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]]> By: Brian Joseph http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/2009/11/03/rays-trading-iwamura-to-pirates/comment-page-1/#comment-3845 Brian Joseph Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:20:47 +0000 http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/?p=10809#comment-3845 Let's look at this a little differently. I like the move for the Pirates. First, they get an excellent second baseman at a very decent salary and Chavez isn't a huge price to pay prospect-wise. If Aki can be productive for the Pirates, by June or July, he should be worth more than Chavez on the open market and Pittsburgh can flip Aki for more value. I think the Pirates can at least break even in the worst of scenarios in this deal. Just my two cents.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('3845','Brian Joseph'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('3845','Brian Joseph','Let\'s look at this a little differently. I like the move for the Pirates. First, they get an excellent second baseman at a very decent salary and Chavez isn\'t a huge price to pay prospect-wise.\r\n\r\nIf Aki can be productive for the Pirates, by June or July, he should be worth more than Chavez on the open market and Pittsburgh can flip Aki for more value. I think the Pirates can at least break even in the worst of scenarios in this deal. Just my two cents.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Let’s look at this a little differently. I like the move for the Pirates. First, they get an excellent second baseman at a very decent salary and Chavez isn’t a huge price to pay prospect-wise.

If Aki can be productive for the Pirates, by June or July, he should be worth more than Chavez on the open market and Pittsburgh can flip Aki for more value. I think the Pirates can at least break even in the worst of scenarios in this deal. Just my two cents.

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