Rays close to trading Iwamura to Pirates

The Tampa Bay Rays eased their middle infield logjam a bit today by agreeing to trade Akinori Iwamura(notes) to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

FOXSports.com and ESPN.com report the Rays will receive right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez(notes).  

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(notes) to the San Francisco Giants in August, and Andy LaRoche(notes) developed into a steady third baseman.  

Tampa Bay has Ben Zobrist(notes) to play second base and Jason Bartlett(notes) to play shortstop. Prospects Reid Brignac(notes) and Sean Rodriguez(notes) are ready to provide depth.  

The 30-year-old Iwamura batted .290 in 69 games for the Rays in 2009, with a home run and 22 RBIs.  

Chavez, 26, pitched in 73 games this year in his first full big-league season. He compiled a 4.01 ERA in 67 1/3 innings. He struck out 47 and walked 22.

More from Sporting News: Yankees one win away from World Series title