Rays win bid for Iwamura?

[raysnbran]

D-Rays win rights to Iwamura


5:40 p.m.

News, notes and quotes from the general managers meetings at the Naples Grande Resort and club.

* It appears Tampa Bay has won the bidding right for Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura. The Devil Rays reportedly outbid the Indians, San Diego and Boston for the left-handed hitter. The Yakult Swallows, Iwamura's club, are expected to announce the winning bid Wednesday or Thursday.

The Devil Rays OUTBID someone for a player?? :dance

[brooklynboy]

1) let's hope we can sign him..

2) Pray he doesn't turn out to be another Kaz

:atthepc

[jeterMVP]

doesn't make much sense when they have one of the top (if not the top) prospect at third

[wigglestrue]

doesn't make much sense when they have one of the top (if not the top) prospect at third

There are other positions.
And other trade possibilities.

[TheKingofKings]

The Devil Rays OUTBID someone for a player?? :dance

I can explain outbiding the Sox, they had bid 51.1 million for the rights to "Matz", it was normal they didn't want to go in debt and also making a huge big for Iwamura :atthepc

[raysnbran]

There are other positions.
And other trade possibilities.

We still need a 1B. I do not want to see Travis Lee's bat in the lineup anymore. Now his glove is a different story. But I've heard Iwamura can play multiple positions. Infield defense is a priority with this team because of the shaky pitching staff. Upton at 3B and Cantu at 2B are liabilities.

[tripledup22]

the rays dont need a fielder though it is nice to have another superster the rays need pitching im a yankees fan not a rays just letting you know but i think in the next 3-4 years the rays will be competing for the division w/ enough pitching

[EvanAparra]

doesn't make much sense when they have one of the top (if not the top) prospect at third

Who's the top prospect at 3rd?

[wigglestrue]

Upton plays 3B now (although he could be a SS, CF...), already up.
Longoria is projected to be a 3B (although drafted as a SS), will be AA.
...even Bankston has been trained at 3B (although primarily a 1B), at AAA.
Then they have Chris Nowak (also more of a 1B) at A+.
Mike McCormick in the rookie ball league...

Rays are loaded with infield options.
Zobrist, Upton, Brignac, or Longoria could play SS.

Their one hole is 1B, where they've considered a slew of people.
Bankston, Dukes, Baldelli, Gomes (I think), Nowak...

Although, 2B is kind of shallow, too.
Elliot Johnson and Josh Asanovich are pretty much it.
If they use Cantu as trade bait, Iwamura would be their MLB 2B.

[EvanAparra]

Ah, Upton.. I always think of him as a SS.

[Cubsfan97]

Ah, Upton.. I always think of him as a SS.
I do too. Did he used to play SS? I think Iwamura can be more than what Kaz Matsui was. Maybe not as great as Hideki, but the Rays can use all the help they can get!

[raysnbran]

He was in town over the weekend, checking out the Trop and meeting with team officials. He underwent a physical yesterday and is scheduled to fly back to Japan today. However his agent says negotiations are "as far apart as Tokyo and Tampa". :grouchy

[East Coast Bat Co]

how much time is left? isn't there a 30 day window?

[raysnbran]

Time runs out at midnight Friday. Iwamura told a Japanese radio show that he is looking forward to getting this team to 80 wins and out of 5th place. Unless he can pitch too, I doubt that will happen...:rolleyes:

[tonypug]

The Rays seem confident they are going to sign him. Once that is done, they will probably decide what else to do.Right now they have two open roster spots.

[East Coast Bat Co]

Will this signing make Upton expendable in exchange for pitching? I would hate to see it happen, but something has to give.

[raysnbran]

It's official!

http://www.draysbay.com/images/admin/Iwamura.jpg (Thanks draysbay)

Now it's where will he play. He was a Gold Glove at 3B but if we keep Upton at 3B, he might be better at 2B. Then what to do with Cantu...1B? His glove doesn't work well anywhere. Still some decisions to be made going into ST.

[tonypug]

What I have heard is Iwamura would play second, Upton Third and Cantu will either be traded or tried at first. I think Upton should be given an entire season at third after he works there during spring training. That is the only fair way to assess him. That way Iwamurra and Zobrist have all spring to work together. The one missing piece is a pitcher who can get batters out consistantly in the 8th and 9th innings.

[Eddiey]

What I have heard is Iwamura would play second, Upton Third and Cantu will either be traded or tried at first. I think Upton should be given an entire season at third after he works there during spring training. That is the only fair way to assess him. That way Iwamurra and Zobrist have all spring to work together. The one missing piece is a pitcher who can get batters out consistantly in the 8th and 9th innings.
If what you heard re the infield is correct that gives the Rays a SS who can't hit or field playing 3b. A guy who's best position is 3b playing second and a 1b who up to this point has been a 2b. Yeah, that setup makes sense. :crazy The Rays have alot more then just one missing piece on the pitching staff. Up to this point Kaz is the only pitcher the Rays have who has proven to be effective consistently at the major league level.

[raysnbran]

One thing I don't care for is his strikeouts. He apparently is a free swinger, so he'll fit right in with this lineup. None of them work counts, like the Yankees do, and make the SP work for his outs, and get him tired and a high pitch count. Apparently he doesn't speak English, so I wonder if he will be able to communicate with his teammates and understand what his manager and coaches are trying to tell him.

[tonypug]

Its kind of funny, everybody wanted to see Iwamura signed. Now that he is signed, those same people aren't happy. Everyone wanted to see Upton brought up to the majors. Now he's here, and those same people say he can't play in the big leagues. Lets give Upton a full year, lets give Iwamura a chnce to play, lets give Zobrist a full spring traing and season.If Cantu can learn first, he has a good enough bat. If we are still talking like this next year at this time, I will be right with you guys. Go back over last year, the starting pitching, while not great was good enough to take leads into the 8th inning on many occasions. The bullpen couldn't hold those leads.

[Eddiey]

Its kind of funny, everybody wanted to see Iwamura signed. Now that he is signed, those same people aren't happy. Everyone wanted to see Upton brought up to the majors. Now he's here, and those same people say he can't play in the big leagues. Lets give Upton a full year, lets give Iwamura a chnce to play, lets give Zobrist a full spring traing and season.If Cantu can learn first, he has a good enough bat. If we are still talking like this next year at this time, I will be right with you guys. Go back over last year, the starting pitching, while not great was good enough to take leads into the 8th inning on many occasions. The bullpen couldn't hold those leads.
I'm all for playing these guys, but at positions that make sense. Put Iamura at 3b and Upton at 2b where its a shorter throw. Yeah, Lou Pinella thought Cantu was best suited for 1b, but thats back when he was hitting with some power. Last year he had a very down year, but yes. he should be played somewhere.

[tonypug]

I'm all for playing these guys, but at positions that make sense. Put Iamura at 3b and Upton at 2b where its a shorter throw. Yeah, Lou Pinella thought Cantu was best suited for 1b, but thats back when he was hitting with some power. Last year he had a very down year, but yes. he should be played somewhere.
I don't think the Rays want to keep moving Upton around, thats a sure wat to mess with his mind. Third is probably the best position for Upton. Its a reaction position, you don't have to think, just react. He made some great playe there last year as well as some errors.If he hits like he did a couple of years ago when they brought him up, people won't talk about his defense. All the reports on Iwamura is that he is as good at second as he is at third.