Iwamura to Pirates

More info... By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Whenever discussing the Rays' worst-to-first transformation in 2008, executive vice president Andrew Friedman mentions Akinori Iwamura's selflessness in moving from third base to second.

"Essentially, his comment was, 'whatever it takes to help the team win,'" Friedman recalled Tuesday night. "And I think all of his teammates saw that and really appreciated that, as did the organization."

"Aki" did help the Rays win – he was the lead-off batter and second baseman for the 2008 American League champions – but his time in Tampa Bay is done.

The Rays traded the popular native of Japan to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez, a right-handed reliever who was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA last year as a rookie.

"We've got areas we need to try to address, with the bullpen and the catching situation," Friedman said. "With (Ben) Zobrist, (Reid) Brignac and (Sean) Rodriguez, it's not clear how things are going to shake out, but it was an area where we had some depth."

The Rays had until the day after the World Series to exercise a $4.85 million option on Iwamura's contract or pay a $550,000 buyout and allow him to become a free agent. A third possibility was to trade him while they still held the option.

While the Rays didn't get equal value in the trade, that isn't what this transaction was about. They avoided paying the buyout and, rather than getting nothing, acquired a pitcher Friedman said has "swing and miss stuff" and "real upside."

"Now it's about trying to harness it and have it play that way at the major league level," Friedman said of Chavez, 26, who led all rookies with 73 appearances this year and is 1-5 with a 4.48 ERA overall in the majors.

Iwamura, 30, signed with the Rays before the 2007 season after earning six Gold Gloves at third base for the Japanese Central League's Yakult Swallows.

In three seasons with Tampa Bay, Iwamura hit .281 with 104 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .354 on-base percentage. This year, while missing more than three months after suffering partial tears of his left ACL and meniscus in May, he batted .290 with 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

There had been talk for weeks that the Rays might try to trade Iwamura rather than paying the buyout, but the speculation usually centered on a deal with the Cubs or Dodgers. Friedman said Tuesday the Pirates "were all over us for about a month."

"They'd done their home work and saw the depth we had and said, 'hey, we want to put our hat in the ring; we have a lot of interest in Aki,'" he said. "It was something we had in the back of our minds, but at that point we weren't really sure which direction we were going to go in."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

K BARTH SIGNED, K ANDRUS RELEASED

K BARTH SIGNED, K ANDRUS RELEASED
The Buccaneers announced today that they have signed K Connor Barth. In addition, the team released K Shane Andrus.


Barth joins the Buccaneers after being released by the Miami Dolphins on August 29. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. He played in 10 games for the Chiefs in 2008, converting 10-of-12 field goals and all 24 PATs before being released on July 28, 2009.


Andrus played in three games for the Buccaneers this season and was 0-1 on field goal attempts while converting 6-of-6 PATs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Pats win in London

WEMBLEY, England (AP)—It took a trip across the Atlantic for Tom Brady(notes) and the New England Patriots to get their first road victory of the season. For the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the change of scenery produced yet another loss.

Brady threw three touchdown passes and had more than 300 yards as the Patriots (5-2) beat the Buccaneers 35-7 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in the NFL’s third regular-season game at the iconic London venue.

The Bucs, who gave up a home game to play in London, fell to 0-7 and saw their losing streak extended to 11 games overall.

The Patriots were coming off a 59-0 win over the Tennessee Titans in which Brady tossed six TD passes. New England wasn’t as overpowering this time, and Brady even threw two interceptions in an uneven first-half performance.

But, with a 39-yard score on an interception return by safety Brandon Meriweather(notes) on the fifth play of the game, New England was always in control against the league’s 27th-ranked defense.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Mets minor leaguer dies

NEW YORK (AP)—New York Mets minor league pitcher Rafael Castro has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 18.

Castro died Friday at the Mets’ academy in Carabobo, Venezuela. The Mets announced his death Saturday.

Castro had spent two years with the Mets’ team in the Venezuelan Summer League. The right-handed pitcher was from Colombia.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Browns' Wright at practice after rollover crash

Browns' Wright at practice after rollover crash

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Browns cornerback Eric Wright was back at practice hours after flipping his car on a wet highway entrance ramp. He may play Sunday against Green Bay.

Wright rolled his car early Friday when his vehicle slid on wet pavement. He was examined and released at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. The Browns sent him for more tests and Wright was back at the team's training facility in Berea, Ohio, in time for practice.

Coach Eric Mangini was hopeful Wright would be able to play in Sunday's home game against the Packers.

Wright rode a stationary bike during the 30-minute period he was observed by reporters. The Browns listed him as questionable for Sunday with a shoulder injury.

Wright felt fortunate to have escaped the wreck in pretty good shape.

"It was a blessing that I came out period, really," said Wright, who was helped out through the car's blown-out back window by a trucker. "It puts a lot of stuff in perspective for me and it's definitely a huge event in my life at this point. Luckily, I'm here."

Wright, 24, said it was his first accident.