Iwamura: D-Rays win w/ $4.5M bid per ESPN

[E.J.]

Boston.com[/url]"]With Sox third baseman Mike Lowell having only one year left on his contract (at $9 million) and knowing there's enough interest that they could move him, the Red Sox have interest in lefthanded-hitting Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, 27, who has hit over .300 with 106 homers the last three seasons. He had a .389 on-base percentage last season for the Yakult Swallows. The Indians, Padres and Phillies also appear to be in position to make a bid for Iwamura, a Gold Glove-caliber fielder who can also play second base and center field. Iwamura will be posted by the Swallows tomorrow and teams can begin making their secret bids. Iwamura will likely require a contract in the $4 million-$5 million range per season.

 

 

Iwamura recently said he'd be willing to play 2b or CF as well as 3b. So, do the Cubs get involved, looking at him to play 2b or CF next year (or even 3b if the Ramirez' negotiations aren't going well)?

[mg420]

i hope they get involved. how many other teams are interested in him? i can see a middle if of theriot at ss & Iwamura at 2b. he would probably be a better option than many of the other guys available.

[Larry Horse]

Way too forward-thinking for Hendry. He would rather go with someone like DeRosa.

[UK1679666180]

I think it would be a great idea if they were excessive enough to get Daisuke, to get another Japanese player to make it easier for each of their transitions as well as greater Japanese marketing potenial beyond what I assume is dominated by the M's and Yankees.

[cubweiser03]

I think it would be a great idea if they were excessive enough to get Daisuke, to get another Japanese player to make it easier for each of their transitions as well as greater Japanese marketing potenial beyond what I assume is dominated by the M's and Yankees.

 

I like your style. An everyday player adds to the marketablity. Cubs have the national distribuition outlet known as WGN. Take advantage of that.

[E.J.]

I think it would be a great idea if they were excessive enough to get Daisuke, to get another Japanese player to make it easier for each of their transitions as well as greater Japanese marketing potenial beyond what I assume is dominated by the M's and Yankees.

 

I like your style. An everyday player adds to the marketablity. Cubs have the national distribuition outlet known as WGN. Take advantage of that.

 

With McDonough running the show the Cubs might actually be thinking that way now. Let's hope so.

[Warpticon]

Iwamura at 2B could be a steal, and he's likely to be relatively cheap, too. Plus he's Ramirez insurance. I'd be all over it.

[Warpticon]

whee!

[davearm]

How about this sequence of moves to change the face of the Cubs:

 

Zambrano for ARod; Land Matsuzaka

Let ARam walk; sign Iwamura for 3B

Prior for Baldelli; sign a FA pitcher (Lilly/Padilla)

Dempster for M Giles

[Bluescale]

How about this sequence of moves to change the face of the Cubs:

 

Zambrano for ARod; Land Matsuzaka

Let ARam walk; sign Iwamura for 3B

Prior for Baldelli; sign a FA pitcher (Lilly/Padilla)

Dempster for M Giles

 

I have a hard time believing Prior has ANY trade value right now. Everyone in baseball is wondering if he'll ever be completely healthy again. Besides, all the bad Chicago press he's recieved for lacking toughness doesn't help his value one bit.

[Warpticon]

How about this sequence of moves to change the face of the Cubs:

 

Zambrano for ARod; Land Matsuzaka

Let ARam walk; sign Iwamura for 3B

Prior for Baldelli; sign a FA pitcher (Lilly/Padilla)

Dempster for M Giles

 

I prefer keeping Zambrano, Prior, and Aramis, and signing Iwamura for 2B/SS/CF while signing Matsuzaka to be the #2 starter.

[snoodmonger]

How about this sequence of moves to change the face of the Cubs:

 

Zambrano for ARod; Land Matsuzaka

Let ARam walk; sign Iwamura for 3B

Prior for Baldelli; sign a FA pitcher (Lilly/Padilla)

Dempster for M Giles

 

I prefer keeping Zambrano, Prior, and Aramis, and signing Iwamura for 2B/SS/CF while signing Matsuzaka to be the #2 starter.

 

Can we afford Soriano, Matsazuka, ARAM, and Iwamura?

 

Because if we can, and if we get those guys, we'd have a lot of options.

 

I'd probably go

 

Murton LF

Iwamura SS

Lee 1B

Aram 3B

Soriano 2B

Barrett C

Jones RF

Pie CF

 

 

But if you're worried about Soriano's IF Defense, you could put Soriano in CF and Iwamura + Cedeno/Theriot could fill the middle IF.

[rjchapma]

no we cant afford that or aleast I think not. If we could that would be spectacular

[CUBZ99]

Considering what happened last year, I would prefer the Cubs actually go into the season with more than a bunch of players that they hope are going to play well. Sure this guy may be worth a chance if the rest of the lineup was solid, but the Cubs have way too many holes at the moment.

[CubsWin]

Considering what happened last year, I would prefer the Cubs actually go into the season with more than a bunch of players that they hope are going to play well. Sure this guy may be worth a chance if the rest of the lineup was solid, but the Cubs have way too many holes at the moment.

They also apparently have a lot of money to spend.

[E.J.]

Iwamura was posted today as planned.

 

Sports Illustrated[/url]"]Third baseman Akinori Iwamura was put up for bid Monday by the Yakult Swallow of Japan's Central League.

 

Major league teams have until Friday to submit bids for the 27-year-old Iwamura, a five-time Gold Glove winner in Japan who played for his nation's team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March.

 

The Swallows will be notified of the top offer - without being told which team made it - and have until Nov. 16 to accept. If the offer is accepted, the winning major league team has 30 days to negotiate a contract.

 

I really do hope that Hendry puts in a bid. I'd like to see Iwamura playing 2b for us next year.

[cubweiser03]

Do we have an idea of the teams interested in this guy?

[E.J.]

Do we have an idea of the teams interested in this guy?

 

Cleveland Plain Dealer[/url]"]The Yakult Swallows, who have a working agreement with the Indians, have said they will make third baseman Akinori Iwamura available to play in the big leagues next year through the posting system. The Indians, San Diego, Boston and Philadelphia are said to be interested.

[nilodnayr]

Do we have an idea of the teams interested in this guy?

 

Cleveland Plain Dealer[/url]"]The Yakult Swallows, who have a working agreement with the Indians, have said they will make third baseman Akinori Iwamura available to play in the big leagues next year through the posting system. The Indians, San Diego, Boston and Philadelphia are said to be interested.

 

I like Betemit a lot but I just don't understand why the Dodgers aren't interested. Also, that is a suspicious list of every team that needs a 3B...sounds more like conjecture than actual inside knowledge.

[The Q]

I know that the Red Sox are interested. They could really use him too. Play him at 2B and put Pedroia at SS.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

This is sure to excite the Philly fans!

 

The Phillies have decided against making a bid for Yakult Swallows third baseman Akinori Iwamura, who was posted on Monday.

According to the Inquirer, the Phillies are interested in free agents Mark DeRosa and Wes Helms to share time with Abraham Nunez.

 

- rotoworld.com

[radarluv1]

This is sure to excite the Philly fans!

 

The Phillies have decided against making a bid for Yakult Swallows third baseman Akinori Iwamura, who was posted on Monday.

According to the Inquirer, the Phillies are interested in free agents Mark DeRosa and Wes Helms to share time with Abraham Nunez.

 

- rotoworld.com

 

WTG phils! very cub-like moves

[b_wiggy_66]

mlbtraderumors is reporting that the winning bid could be around $1 Million if this is the case everyone should be bidding for him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Iwamura would be fantastic at second base. No reason not to pursue him, even more so with the increased scouting late this summer.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What about Iwamura for CF?