Akinori Iwamura, who was Tampa Bay’s everyday second baseman in 2008 when the team made a run to the World Series, was traded to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez, a relief pitcher. Iwamura will likely become Pittsburgh’s everyday second baseman.

In 2009, Iwamura’s season was cut sure due to a knee injury. The 30-year-old native of Japan hit .290 with 22 RBIs and 28 runs in 231 at-bats. In 2008, he hit .274 with six homers, 48 RBIs, 91 runs and an on-base percentage of .349.

Chavez pitched in 73 games last year for the Pirates and posted a 4.01 ERA. It was the 26-year-old’s first full season in the big leagues.

The Rays were able to trade Iwamura since Ben Zobrist emerged as a potential star at second base last year after Iwamura’s injury.

Akinori Iwamura is the new second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates (Image: Zuma Press)

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Akinori Iwamura Traded to the Pirates

The 31-year-old second baseman began his career with the Boston Red Sox but made his name with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played with the Pirates from 2004 through the middle of last season. For his career, Sanchez has a .299 batting average and an on-base percentage of .334.

In 25 games with the Giants last season, Sanchez hit .284 with one homer, seven RBIs and 11 runs. In 86 games with the Pirates last season, he hit .296 with six homers, 34 RBIs and 45 runs.

The Giants were in the playoff race for much of last season but fell off near the end of the campaign. Still, their record of 88-74 beat most expectations and they have a number of solid pieces to build upon — now including Freddy Sanchez.

Freddy Sanchez - San Francisco Giants (Image: Zuma Press)

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Freddy Sanchez Signs Extension with Giants

On the season, the 30-year-old Grabow has a 3.42 ERA in 45 appearances. He’s been a member of Pittsburgh’s bullpen since coming into the big leagues in 2003. Last season was his best year — finishing with a 2.84 ERA in 74 appearances.

The Cubs have been interested in Grabow because they needed an additional left-hander in their bullpen. Currently, Sean Marshall is the only southpaw in Chicago’s bullpen.

Who exactly the Cubs are getting in return hasn’t been announced. Considering that the Pirates are clearly in a rebuilding mode, it’s likely that they will ask for young prospects in return. In their trades completed yesterday, the Pirates received Tim Alderson, Ronny Cedeno, Jack Lement, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

John Grabow traded to the Cubs (Image: Zuma Press)

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Another Pirates Trade: John Grabow to Cubs

The first trade sent Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Pirates received Ronny Cedeno, Jack Lement, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

Wilson was the starting shortstop for the Pirates and will continue to start with the Mariners. On the season, he’s hitting .267 with four homers and 31 RBIs. Snell is a starting pitcher with a 5.36 ERA and a record of 2-8. Many scouts think that the 27-year-old Snell still has untapped potential.

The two big names the Pirates received in this trade were Cedeno and Clement. Both players will likely play at the big league level this season for Pittsburgh.

In the other trade of the day, the Pirates traded Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants. The second baseman, who has been an All-Star three times, is hitting .296 with six homers and 34 RBIs. For his career, the 31-year-old is a .300 hitter.

With the Giants, Sanchez will step into a big role right away. San Francisco hopes he’s the key to making a push to qualify for the 2009 baseball playoffs.

In return, the Pirates received Tim Alderson, a quality pitching prospect.

Freddy Sanchez Tradded to the Giants (Image: Zuma Press)

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Pirates Trade Sanchez, Wilson and Snell

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Pittsburgh: Where Amazing Happens?

Top 10 Most Disappointing Major League Baseball Players of 2008

10. Roy Oswalt – Houston Astros – Oswalt has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the past few years, yet this season he has hit more speed bumps than anyone could have imagined. The Astros were counting on Oswalt’s consistency to help lead a pieced-together pitching staff, yet the Weir, Mississippi native is just 5-7 on the year with a 5.04 earned run average. Oswalt has also allowed 17 home runs this year.

9. Freddy Sanchez – Pittsburgh Pirates – Just two years ago, this former NAIA All-American won the National League batting crown with a .344 average. Now, however, Sanchez is hitting only .229 and has struck out 35 times. In 2006, when he won the batting title, Sanchez struck out only 52 times.

Sorry Ryan Howard, but you have to be on this list with that horrible batting average. Photo: Newscom

8. Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies – I’m sure some of you are surprised that Howard’s name is on this list. Well, you shouldn’t be. How can I leave a guy that is hitting just .221 off this list? Yes, Howard has 19 home runs and 62 runs batted it, but he’s hitting only .221! Also, the former NL MVP has racked up 101 strikeouts in 272 at bats. In case you were wondering, that means Howard strikes out once every 2.7 at bats. UNBELIEVABLE!

7. Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants – Ah, yes. Barry Zito. I have no idea what has happened to Zito since he left Oakland, but he’s not the same. He’s not earning his $126 million contract. The former Cy Young winner is 2-10 with a 5.88 ERA this season for the Giants. He also has walked more hitters (44) than he has struck out (38).

6. Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox – It’s hard to believe that Konerko could already be nearing the end of his career. But, that could be what is happening with his stats. Konerko is hitting just .215 for the White Sox. It’s not just the power that has dropped off for Konerko, it’s also the power numbers. He has only eight home runs and 30 RBI this season. His inability to help the White Sox, along with the slumping numbers of Jim Thome could mean Chicago misses the playoffs for the third straight season.

5. Carlos Delgado – New York Mets – Delgado, like Konerko, is showing signs of slowing down. Delgado hasn’t hit .300 in a season since he joined the Mets. This season, he is hitting only .238 and has power numbers similar to that of Konerko’s with nine homers and 32 RBI. Delgado didn’t have a stellar season in 2007 either, but his 2008 season has been especially disappointing.

4. Andruw Jones – Los Angeles Dodgers – To be fair, Jones had a horrible season with the Atlanta Braves last year. However, he is doing even worse in L.A. this year. Jones is batting well below the Mendoza Line at .165 in 133 at bats. He’s not hitting with power this year, since he has only two home runs and not driving in runs either (seven total RBI). I doubt Joe Torre ever thought before the year began that Jones shouldn’t be in the lineup instead of mulling over the whole Juan Pierre controversy. Either way, Jones’ stats are pathetic and he could easily be the biggest free agent signing bust of the year.

3. Khalil Greene – San Diego Padres – A couple of things Greene needs to finally figure out; he’s not at Clemson University anymore and he’s not using an aluminum bat. Greene flat out tore it up at the plate in college. But, he hasn’t figured it out at the professional level. This season, he’s hitting just . 226 and has a .271 on base percentage. Greene has also struck out 69 times and drawn only 16 bases on balls.

2. Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers – I have to put both of these guys together at the number two slot. Both have had absolutely horrible starts to the 2008 season. Hall is hitting only .216 in 213 at bats this season. He owns a .285 OBP and has whiffed 60 times, while earning only 18 walks. Weeks is just as bad, batting just .210 this season.

1. Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers – Coming into the 2008 season the Tigers were one of the top favorites to contend for the AL title. There’s no secret that Verlander was going to be the ace of the pitching staff and again be dominant. Except, he hasn’t been. Verlander is just 3-9 this season with a 4.55 ERA. He has scouts wondering why his arm slot has dropped causing his velocity to fall and his breaking ball to flatten out. He’s won at least 17 games in his last two seasons, yet this year, he could lose that many.

Just missing the list are Robinson Cano, Jason Isringhausen, Ian Snell, Brett Myers, Gary Matthews Jr., and Jim Thome.

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Thursday 10 – Most disappointing players of 2008