Preview: Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game

Update: Josh Vitters has been scratched from tonight’s game. Baltimore Orioles’ 3B prospect Josh Bell will replace Vitters on the East roster. Bell was traded to the Orioles in the deal that sent George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bell is expected to compete for the Orioles’ starting third base job in spring training and is a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2010.

Original Post

Here is what I wrote back in June after I had just done a recap of the major league draft:

“Here is my suggestion for Bud Selig in order to give the draft some juice. Unless you are a real die hard baseball, other than Stephen Strasburg, you don’t know 99 percent of the players drafted in the first round.

“The MLB Network should show a high school or college “Showcase Game of the Week.” Once a week broadcast a game that features a projected first round pick. This will allow fans to get to know some of the players their team is interested in. I think this will really help the draft.”

Major League Baseball and the MLB Network has followed my suggestion–to an extent. Since we are there is no high school or college baseball to showcase right now, the MLB Network has decided to do the next best thing.

Tonight at 8:15 ET, the MLB Network will televise the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game. This is exactly what I was talking about when I suggested the MLB Network show a rising stars game for high school and college players.

This is really great for the game of baseball.

This will allow fans a chance to see some of the future stars of the game. How often do casual fans get to see their teams top prospects play before they reach the major leagues?

Now that the MLB Network is televising this game, who should you be looking for? Here are 10 players in tonight’s game that you should keep an eye on.

East

1. Buster Posey, C

Organization – San Francisco Giants

Arizona Fall League Stats – .218/.317/.364 in 14 games

Posey was called up by the Giants in September, but for reasons only known to the Giants organization he didn’t play much. In seven games, Posey only hit .118 with the big club.

Don’t be fooled, this guy can hit. All signs point to Posey being the Giants’ starting catcher in 2010.

2. Josh Vitters, 3B

Organization – Chicago Cubs

Arizona Fall League Stats – .360/.385/.460 in 12 games

The former No. 3 pick in the 2007 draft has been tearing up the Arizona Fall League. Vitters should be ready to take over the starting third base job in Chicago once Aramis Ramirez is done with his contract after the 2011 season.

3. Grant Desme, OF

Organization – Oakland A’s

Arizona Fall League Stats – .373/.453/.827 in 18 games

That sound you just heard was Desme just breaking another window. In just 18 games, Desme has 10 homeruns in the Arizona Fall League. Desme has “light tower power” and for those of you think he is a typical A’s “Moneyball” player–he is not.

In the minor leagues in 2009, Desme had 42 SB’s,

4. Starlin Castro, SS

Organization – Chicago Cubs

Arizona Fall League Stats – .433/.462/.550 in 17 games.

The Cubs might have a star on their hands with Castro. The 19-year-old non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic is currently leading the Arizona Fall League in hitting. He is also tied for third in SB’s with five.

Watch for Castro tonight. He might be the most exciting player on the field.

Castro also played in the Future’s Game in July.

5. Drew Storen, P

Organization – Washington Nationals

Arizona Fall League Stats – 0.93 ERA, nine K’s, and two saves in 9.2 IP

Not only does Storen do a good job of updating his Twitter page, but he also might be the future closer for the Nationals. If the East is leading in the ninth inning, look for Storen to close out the game.

West

1. Jason Castro, C

Organization – Houston Astros

Arizona Fall League Stats  -.143/.260/.214 in 11 games

Ready or not, here Castro comes to the Astros. Because the Astros no established catcher in their organization, Castro might be rushed to the majors in 2010.

Castro hit .300 with a .826 OPS in the minor leagues in 2009.

2. Yonder Alonso, 1B

Organization – Cincinnati Reds

Arizona Fall League Stats – .275/.298/.375 in 13 games

Alonso was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2008 draft and if he is going to play in Cincinnati, he is going to have to learn to play another position. I don’t think Joey Votto is going anywhere for a while.

Alonso had a .838 OPS between Rookie and Single-A in 2009.

3. Dustin Ackley, OF

Organization – Seattle Mariners

Arizona Fall League Stats – .300/.378/.375 in 11 games

The No. 2 pick in the 2009 draft is someone to watch tonight. The former Tar Heel star has all the tools to be a star in the majors.

I have gone on record in saying that Ackley would be the best player to come out of the 2009 draft.

4. Jordan Danks, OF

Organization – Chicago White Sox

Arizona Fall League Stats – .333/.378/.485 in 18 games.

The White Sox have done well with one Danks at the major league level, so why not give another Danks a try. Jordan is the younger brother of White Sox LHP John Danks.

Danks made the jump to Double-A in 2009 and while he didn’t tear up Double-A pitching (.243 avg), he could get his shot with the big club in 2011.

5. Tanner Scheppers, P

Organization – Texas Rangers

Arizona Fall League Stats – 3.00 ERA and nine K’s in nine IP.

Scheppers was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, but decided to go back to college. While in college, Scheppers tore his rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder.

With doubts about his health, Scheppers slipped to the 44th pick in the 2009 draft. Now healthy, Scheppers is showing everyone why he was on the highest regarded pitchers in the draft.

Conspicuous by his absence on this list is Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg was supposed to start this game for the East squad but was scratched because of a strained neck muscle.

The Reds and the Cubs have the most players in this game with four.

You can view the complete rosters for both teams here.

Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb Have Their Options Picked Up

The hot stove is on FIRE!!!

The champagne hasn’t dried yet in the Yankee locker room and we have already seen Mark Teahen and JJ Hardy get traded and the Angels re-sign Bobby Abreu.

This afternoon, we got some more hot stove news as two of the premier pitchers in baseball had their options picked up. One move was a no-brainer and the other move I was a little surprised by.

First, the no-brainer.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have picked up Cliff Lee’s 2010 option for $9 million. Was there any doubt the Phillies wouldn’t pick up his option?

Lee had his option picked up by the Phillies

Lee has established himself as one of the top pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons. The 31-year-old lefty had his national coming out party in the 2009 postseason by going 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts.

He will go into the 2010 season as the Phillies’ ace and with the Phillies’ lineup, he should have no problem winning 15-20 games next year.

Thus, making him worth a lot more than $9 million to the Phillies. Good deal for them.

The second option that was picked up today, like I said, was a little bit surprising.

According to ESPN.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks picked up the $8.5 option for 2010 on Brandon Webb.

Webb pitched in exactly one game last year before being shut down for the season and eventually opted for shoulder surgery on his pitching shoulder. Before last season, Webb was one of the best pitchers in the National League–if not the best.

Webb is Hershiser Part 2

Webb won the Cy Young award in 2006 and in 2007 and 2008, he finished second.

I was a little surprised the Diamondbacks picked up his option because I figured they would decline the option and hope to sign him to an incentive laden deal. However, Webb is progressing nicely according to GM Josh Byrnes.

“He’s worked very hard since the surgery,” general manager Josh Byrnes said, “and we’re confident that he’ll return to be a very healthy, effective pitcher.”

Webb’s career is really starting to remind me of Orel Hershiser’s. Hershiser was a sinker-ball pitcher, who logged a lot innings, won a Cy Young, and in the middle of his career underwent rotator cuff surgery.

Sound familiar?

Hershiser was a good pitcher after the surgery, but never was the dominate pitcher he once was. I think Webb can be the same pitcher Hershiser was post-surgery.

That means a pitcher who can still log a lot of inning, strikes out few, has a high WHIP, but can still gut his way out to 10-15 wins.

A Steal For The Twins: Acquire J.J. Hardy From Brewers

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a big JJ Hardy fan. I have always liked the way he has played. So when I found out that he was traded to the Minnesota Twins today from the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Carlos Gomez, I thought “Wow, what a steal for the Twins.”

For the Twins to get a shortstop of the caliber of Hardy for a fourth outfielder who manager Ron Gardenhire wanted to strangle half the time is a steal in my opinion.

Hardy is a steal for the Twins

I know Hardy stunk last season and yes, he was so bad at one point he was sent to the minors (that wasn’t all about performance). But I am convinced last year was just an aberration for Hardy. In the two years before last season, Hardy had OPS’s of .786 and .821.

Hardy is a perfect fit for the Twins. He is a low-key guy, who can play defense. Since Hardy will be under the Twins control for the next two years, he will give the Twins some stability at short.

Now the Twins can feature a lineup that might look something like this:

1. Span, CF

2. Hardy, SS

3. Mauer, C

4. Morneau, 1B

5. Cuddyer, RF

6. Kubel, DH

7. D. Young, LF

8. N/A, 3B – Twins still need a third baseman

9. Punto, 2B

Regardless of who they get to play third, that is a tremendous lineup for the Twins. That is a lineup that could win them another Central Division crown in 2010.

As for the Brewers, the acquisition of Gomez officially ends the Mike Cameron (one of the more underrated players in baseball) era in Milwaukee. I know the Brewers had a need in centerfield, but I feel they could have gotten more for Hardy.

Gomez is a fast runner and a great defensive player. Other than that, he can’t do anything else. He certainly can’t hit–yet. In three years in the majors, Gomez has a .246 average and a .292 OBP.

I say yet because he is still only 23-years-old. However, he just strikes me as a guy that a team would bring in for the eighth inning as a defensive replacement.

You can have all the speed in the world, but if you don’t use it wisely, it doesn’t matter. Look at Derek Jeter. He is not the fastest guy in baseball, but he is the best baserunner in baseball. Sometimes that is better than speed.

This move also tells me the Brewers are going to back off asking Rickie Weeks to play centerfield in 2010. If Gomez is the Brewers’ starting centerfielder in 2010 and Weeks is going to play second, then the Felipe Lopez era is also over in Milwaukee.

Top prospect Alcides Escobar is expected to be the Brewers’ starting shortstop in 2010, which made Hardy expendable.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

A Perfect Fit: Bobby Abreu Re-signs With Angels

I wrote last week there were three teams whose future would be dramatically affected by what happens this offseason. Those three teams were the New York Mets, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

For the Angels, they are facing an offseason where their core group of players from years past and present were free agents to be. Chone Figgins, John Lackey, Vladimir Guerrero, and Bobby Abreu are all potential free agents.

With that many key free agents, the Angels have to figure out quickly, who is going to be part of their core group in the future.

Abreu will be back with the Angels

Yesterday, the Angels made it clear who they want to be part of their core group for 2010 and for the future.

According to Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse, Bobby Abreu re-signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim yesterday. The deal is worth $19 million over two years with vesting option for 2012.

This was such a perfect fit for both Abreu and the Angels, that it was good business to get a deal done.

As we all know, Abreu took a discounted deal at $5 million to come to the Angels last year. For that $5 million all he did was hit .293/.390/.435 with 15 homeruns and 30 SB’s.

According to Fangraphs, Abreu’s value to the Angels last year was around $11 million. Thus making Abreu on of the best free agent bargains in baseball last winter.

But Abreu’s value to the Angels went beyond numbers. Abreu taught the Angels hitters how to be patient at the plate. He taught them how to work the count and how to look for their pitch more often.

Thanks to the Angels new found approach, the Angels led baseball with a .285 team batting average. Their team OBP also increased by 20 points from 2008 to 2009 (.330 to .350) thanks to Abreu.

Now the Angels have to figure out how to replace Figgins, Guerrero, and Lackey. Knowing how the Angels operate, I am confident in saying they will figure it out and make the best decision possible.

And one last note about this signing. Yesterday was a good day for Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. With Abreu now out of the way, Bay and Holliday are by far and away the two best hitters on the market.

Abreu’s signing only increases their leverage to teams who are looking for an offensive player.

Marlins Trade Hermida To Red Sox: A Sign Of Things To Come:

If you thought the “have’s” had an advantage in baseball last winter, you haven’t seen nothing yet.

In a trade that is a foreshadowing of how this winter is going to play out in baseball, the Florida Marlins sent former first-round pick Jeremy Hermida to the Boston Red Sox for LHP’s Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Hermida is headed to Boston

Due to the economy, these are the types of trades you are going to see this winter. Teams who can’t afford to wait on young players or can’t afford a player’s salary will be forced to trade them to teams who can.

Even as a Red Sox fan, I am not arrogant enough to say that this isn’t a disturbing trend in baseball.

Hermida was a former first-round pick of the Marlins (11th overall) back in 2002. He was so highly regarded that Baseball America ranked him as the fourth best prospect in baseball at one point.

In 2007, it looked like Hermida was going to realize his potential as he hit .296/.369/.501 with 18 homeruns in 123 games. But injuries and overall inconsistent play over the last two years left the Marlins wondering if Hermida would ever reach his potential.

Where the Marlins are financially they can’t pay Hermida roughly $3 million in arbitration to be a mediocre player. I know $3 million doesn’t seem like a lot in baseball money, but to the Marlins it is.

So now the Marlins are faced with the decision of trading Hermida or not tendering him a contract, which would allow him to become a free agent. Because the Marlins can’t afford to wait to see if Hermida will ever blossom, they had to trade him.

The Red Sox swooped in and acquired the 25-year-old. Since the Marlins weren’t in a position of power, the Red Sox only had to surrender a couple of fringe prospects for Hermida.

To get a guy with Hermida’s potential is a steal for the Red Sox. With an aging lineup the Red Sox need an infusion of young hitters. The Red Sox are hoping that with a change of scenery and better talent around him, Hermida can blossom.

Hermida will start out as a fourth outfielder with the Red Sox, but I just have a feeling he is going to be playing a bigger role with the team in 2010.

This was a good trade for the Red Sox, but in the bigger picture, this trade was a sign of things to come this winter.

It’s going to be a Winter of the “have’s.”

Kansas City Royals Trade Mark Teahen To Chicago White Sox

It only took a couple of hours till after the World Series ended to get the hot stove started.

Today, the Kansas City Royals traded 3B/OF Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox for 2B Chris Getz and 3B Josh Fields.

I don’t get this trade for either team. First, let’s start with the White Sox.

While I give White Sox GM Kenny Williams for being one of the few general managers in today’s economic climate who is willing to take on salary, sometimes I question what he is thinking.

Teahen is finally getting out of KC

If you are going to take on salary, the juice better be worth the squeeze. With Teahen, who will earn probably around $4.5-$5 million in 2010 (he is a second-year arbitration eligible player), I am not sure he is.

Teahen enjoyed his best year in the majors in 2006. The former first round pick out of William & Mary hit .290/.357/.517 with 18 homeruns and 10 SB’s in just 109 games. After that season, I really thought the Royals had something in Teahen.

Since that season he has been extremely mediocre with the Royals. He has never even come close to duplicating his 2006 season and for his career he is a .269/.331./.419 hitter.

I always viewed Teahen as a guy who could be a good piece/role player on a championship team. As the Royals found out, Teahen is not a star player in this league.

I have no idea how Teahen fits on the White Sox. The White Sox need a third baseman, but Teahen is a terrible defensive fielding third baseman. I am guessing he is going to be playing the outfield.

If that’s the case, the White Sox, in this down economy could have gotten a better option than Teahan to play the outfield for roughly $5 million.

As for the Royals, don’t they have enough DH-type players on their roster? Didn’t they learn their lesson last year when they traded for Mike Jacobs?

That is what the Royals got with Fields–a DH. Fields was supposed to be the heir apparent to Joe Crede in Chicago, but it never happened. After Fields hit 23 homeruns in 2007 in just 100 games, I thought the White Sox had a bopper on their hands.

Not so much.

Since 2007, Fields has fallen flat on his face. He has battled injuries and has never really lived up to his promise that made him the second best prospect in the White Sox system according to Baseball America in 2007.

Fields doesn’t have a position on the Royals except for DH. The Royals have Alex Gordon at third and Billy Butler at first. And if Fields is the DH, does that mean Kila Kaaihue will never get a shot with the Royals?

I don’t get it. Kaaihue is the only player in the Royals organization, who understands the meaning of a walk (206 the last two years in the minors) and he can’t see the light of day in the majors.

Getz hit .261/.324/.347 with 25 SB’s in 100 games as a 26-year-old rookie last year with the White Sox. The Royals already have a 26-year-old second baseman named Alberto Callaspo.

Callaspo hit .300/.356/.457 last year and had 173 hits. It looks like Getz will be just a role player with the Royals.

The Royals can shed all the salary they want, but if you are going to shed salary, then you have to get players back who fill a need or needs.

Fields and Getz don’t fill any needs.

Essentially what the Royals did was trade a mediocre player for two mediocre players to back up the mediocre players they already have.

That’s called spinning your wheels.

Chicago Cubs Ted Lilly Has Shoulder Surgery

This has been a big week for surgeries around baseball.

On Monday it was the New York Mets’ Jeff Francoeur going under the knife, on Tuesday it was the Detroit Tigers’ Brandon Inge and the mother of The Ghost of Moonlight Graham having surgery, and yesterday it was the Chicago Cubs’ Ted Lilly getting repaired.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Cubs LHP Ted Lilly had shoulder surgery yesterday on his throwing shoulder. The surgery was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum (I almost wrote Dwight there).

Lilly won’t begin throwing until four months from now and the Cubs don’t expect Lilly back until April.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs were encouraged there was no significant damage to the labrum or rotator cuff, and said surgeon Lewis Yocum thinks there’s “a good possibility Ted would be pitching in April” if all goes well.

Despite having five less win in 09′ than in 08′ (12 to 17) and batting injuries in the second half of the year, Lilly actually had one of the best statistical years of his career. Lilly set career lows for WHIP with 1.056, ERA with 3.10, HR/9 with 1.1, and BB/9 with 1.8.

So what can fantasy owners expect out of Theodore Roosevelt Lilly in 2010?

I expect Lilly to be a serviceable, back-of-the-rotation, or spot starter in fantasy leagues next year. I really can’t see a soon to be 33-year-old, coming of shoulder surgery (even if it wasn’t major) having as good or even better season in 2010 than he did in 08′ or 09′.

I would expect Lilly to start around 25 games and have around nine to 10 wins and an ERA a little north of four in 2010.

Hideki Matsui Powers New York Yankees To World Series Championship

If Mark Teixeira doesn’t beat you, then Alex Rodriguez will. If Alex Rodriguez doesn’t beat you, then Jorge Posada will. And if Teixeira, Rodriguez, and Posada don’t beat you, then Hideki Matsui will.

Playing in perhaps his final game as a New York Yankee, Matsui went 3-for-4 with a homerun, a double, a single, and six RBI as the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 to win their 27th championship.

Matsui did the majority of his damage against Phillies’ starter Pedro Martinez, who didn’t have much last night. Martinez, who was pitching on five days rest, which was short rest for him, really couldn’t get going.

In the second inning, after walking Rodriguez to lead off the inning, Martinez missed his spot by at least four inches to Matsui on a 3-2 pitch and Matsui promptly hit one into the rightfield seats.

In the third inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Matsui came up to the plate again. And again Martinez missed his spot. Martinez, trying to throw a fastball high and outside, threw a fastball outside, but not high enough.

Matsui served a single to left-centerfield to make the score 4-1 and that was the back breaker in my opinion.

While Matsui was driving in the runs, Andy Pettitte wasn’t allowing any runs to the Phillies. So much for not being able to pitch on three days rest.

Pettitte came up big for the Yankees yet again

Pettitte pitched with a bend, but don’t break mentality last night. Pettitte walked five and gave up four hits over 5.2 innings, but never gave up the big hit.

Here are some other observations from last night:

The Phillies biggest fear in this World Series came to light last night–nobody except Cliff Lee could win a game for the Phillies.

After Matusi’s two-run single in the third, I couldn’t believe Charlie Manuel left Martinez in the game to face Posada.

Ryan Howard struck out for a 13th time last night breaking Willie Wilson’s World Series record of 12 set back in 1980.

I can’t believe that more was not made of Shane Victorino’s misplay on the Derek Jeter linedrive in the third. That was a huge play. The way the Yankees were playing, you can’t give them four outs in an inning.

Great job last night by Chad Durbin keeping it close. 0.1 innings, two hits, one walk, and three runs.

While Matsui might have won the World Series MVP award, Damaso Marte was just as valuable in this series.

Marte’s strike out of Chase Utley in the seventh was the nail in the coffin for the Phillies.

Of course, Marte came on to clean up Joba Chamberlain’s mess. How many times did I have to write that this postseason. Someone explain to me why Chamberlain is the most hyped pitcher in the game again?

Melky Cabrera has a World Series ring and Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, and Don Mattingly don’t. Unreal.

Back in March, Gary Sheffield was deciding between the New York Mets and Phillies. The Phillies really could have used him as their DH in this series.

Both teams were playing eight on eight tonight. Brett Gardner = automatic out for the Yankees. Ben Francisco = automatic out for the Phillies.

The Yankees become the first team since the 1991 Minnesota Twins to win a World Series using a three-man pitching staff.

5,000 kids in Long Island, who were Mets fans yesterday, are now Yankee fans today. They came into class today wearing red Yankee hats and a fake Chamberlain jersey.

Matsui will be replaced in the Yankees’ lineup next year by Matt Holliday. Damon will move to DH.

Now all of a sudden Joe Girardi is a genious.

Yankees’ President Randy Levine said in his post-game interview that George Steinbrenner was the first owner to go into Japan when they signed Matsui. Somebody should tell him A. Hideki Irabu played for the Yankees in 1997 and B. Ichiro Suzuki came into the league two years before Matsui.

How many times did the Yankees’ front office try to get rid of Pettitte over the last 10 years? Just proving that they are good business men, but terrible baseball men.

Pedro Feliz killed the Phillies this game. Three times up with RISP and 0-for-3. He gets a hit in any of those AB’s, it’s a different game.

How awesome was Carlos Ruiz this postseason? Just awesome. Such a good little player.

Raul Ibanez had a tremendous AB versus Rivera in the eighth inning. He worked hard for that double.

For the final out of the World Series, the Yankees had Jerry Hairston Jr., Gardner, and Nick Swisher in the outfield. Just goes to show you, you never know who is going to play a role in the World Series in April.

Well, with that the baseball season officially comes to an end. I’ll be doing a year in review in the upcoming days and I will be doing a what to look for this offseason post as well.

It’s one in the morning and I need some sleep. Have a good night folks.

Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge Has Surgery On Both Knees

According to the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Tigers 3B Brandon Inge had surgery on Tuesday to correct the patellar tendinitis in both of his knees. The surgery was performed by Dr. Stephen Lemos at the Detroit Medical Center.

Inge is expected to be ready by spring training.

Despite with pain that Inge described as “excruciating,” Inge still managed to play in an American League leading 161 games last season. Inge hit .230 with 27 homeruns and 84 RBI in those 161 games for the Tigers last season.

There is nobody who will question Inge’s toughness after last season, but fantasy owners will question which Inge they will get next season. Do they get the Inge who hit .286/21/58/.360 in the first-half or will they get the Inge who hit .186/6/26/.260 in the second-half?

Fantasy owners should probably expect to get someone in the middle with Inge in 2010.

Inge will be 33-years-old in 2010 and it’s pretty clear at this point what you are going to get out of Inge. You are probably going to get a guy with a low batting average (.230-.240), 20-25 homeruns, and an OBP somewhere around .315.

In terms of 3B fantasy rankings in 2010, I would say Inge falls somewhere between the 15 and 20. He makes for a serviceable backup on your fantasy team for next year.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

Rays Trade Akinori Iwamura To Pirates

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Pittsburgh Pirates got together and made a trade yesterday.

The Tampa Bay Rays sent 2B Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Jesse Chavez. The Pirates will assume all of the $4.85 million on Iwamura’s contract for 2010.

Iwamura is headed to Pittsburgh

For the Rays, they save the $650,000 buyout on Iwamura’s contract–which they would have had to have paid if they had just declined Iwamura’s contract option. Chavez will be under the Ray’s control until after the 2014 season.

I asked fellow Baseball Bloggers Alliance member and writer for AOL Fanhouse and the No.1 Pirates blog on the web, Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke, Pat Lackey what his initial thoughts were on the trade…

“It’s a short-term move for the Pirates, which I’m not exactly keen about given that the team’s focus should be down the road, but as short-term moves go, this isn’t a bad one.

“Iwamura fills an immediate need for the team at second base and can move around the infield as necessary when Pedro Alvarez is ready, depending on how he, Andy LaRoche, and Garrett Jones are playing. Jesse Chavez was one of the Bucs’ most reliable reliever last year, but his strikeout rate dropped a bit while he reined in his walks and he’s got a bit of a homerun problem.

“All told, the move might not help the Pirates past 2010, but it probably doesn’t hurt them much either.”

I agree with Pat.

Is Iwawura going to help the Pirates win a World Series? Probably not. But the Pirates are trying to build a team around speed and defense and Iwamura fits that bill.

Iwamura is one of the best fielding second baseman in baseball and should fill the gap left at second base when Freddy Sanchez was traded. Best case scenario for the Pirates–Iwamura plays his usual solid second base, hits .285, and the Pirates trade him in July to a contender for prospects.

As for the Rays, thanks to Ben Zobrist’s breakout year (.297/27/91/.405), they didn’t need Iwamura. But what they do need is bullpen help and Chavez gives the Rays a serviceable option out of the pen.

Chavez appeared in 73 games for the Pirates in 2008 posting a 4.01 ERA, 1.351 WHIP, and a 6.3 K/9 rate. Pat mentioned above that Chavez had a homerun problem. He gave up 11 big-flies in those 73 innings, which isn’t great for a reliever.

I expect the Rays to be very active this Winter. Trading Iwamura is just the start.