Top News:
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Rays finalize deal to send Iwamura to Pirates for reliever Chavez — UPDATE, 7:43: Rays exec VP Andrew Friedman said “it is hard to put into words what Aki has meant to the organization” and that the Pirates “were all over us for about a month” about getting him. Chavez, Friedman said, “has real upside.
RELATED:
Roger Mooney / Bradenton.com:
Rays close to trading Iwamura — The Tampa Bay Rays are rumored to be in the process of finalizing a deal that will send second baseman Akinori Iwamura to a National League team. The trade is expected to be completed Tuesday night. — The team holds a $4.5 million option for 2010 on the second baseman.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Official now: Pirates get Iwamura for Chavez — The Pirates are close to acquiring infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays, possibly as soon as tonight. — Word that the Pirates were involved in talks came at 3:04 p.m. today on the Post-Gazette's Twitter account.
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Value Of A Win To A Losing Team — According to Mark Topkin, the Rays are close to completing a trade of Akinori Iwamura to an unnamed team. A more recent report from Dejan Kovacevic pegs the Pittsburgh Pirates as the potential partner. This post isn't an analysis of that trade …
MLB:
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire 2B Akinori Iwamura from Tampa Bay Rays — The Pittsburgh Pirates have been plugging holes after trades for years, but filling the Freddy Sanchez void proved difficult. — On Tuesday, the team agreed to acquire second baseman Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Jesse Chavez.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, PBC Blog, FanGraphs Baseball, Mondesi's House, MLB Rumors and Associated Press
Yahoo! Sports:
Phillies contend Myers and Hamels were joking — NEW YORK - A brief and seemingly testy exchange between Philadelphia Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels — after Game 5 of the World Series was jocular in nature and not representative of a clubhouse feud, a team official contended Tuesday afternoon.
RELATED:
Joshua Fisher / Dodger Divorce:How the McCourts came to own the Dodgers.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Five reasons why the Phillies could pull off a shocking comeback (cont.) — • The Yankees have interest in bringing back Johnny Damon — “We need him,” A-Rod said — but could well get competition from at least the White Sox and Giants. The Cardinals, Braves and Red Sox are among …
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Heyman On Damon, Scutaro, Red Sox — The latest from SI's Jon Heyman... - The Yankees are interested in re-signing Johnny Damon, and may be willing to offer two years and $16MM. Heyman believes the White Sox and Giants will be among the other suitors. — Heyman says the Reds “could do worse” than Marco Scutaro at shortstop.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Five reasons why the Phillies could pull off a shocking comeback … PHILADELPHIA — Longtime Yankees postseason star Andy Pettitte told several teammates he had absolutely “nothing” after hanging in six innings to win Game 3, and now he is being entrusted to summon something better with only three days' rest in Game 6 Wednesday.
RELATED:
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:You're not on the mark, Teixeira; he whiffs to end it
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe
MLB.com:
Mattingly not interviewing with Nationals — Dodgers hitting coach withdraws name from consideration — Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly has declined to interview for the Nationals' opening for manager, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed through a team spokesperson on Tuesday.
RELATED:
Conor Glassey / Baseball America:
AFL Rising Stars Rosters — The World Series will be over by Saturday, but that doesn't mean there won't be any baseball on TV. Set your TiVo for 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 7 on MLB Network, and you can watch the fourth-annual Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game. — The teams are split up by AFL divisions.
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Three O's refuse assignment, file for free agency — Hill, Fiorentino, G. Rodriguez now allowed to talk to other teams; Simon to Norfolk — Three 2009 Orioles have decided to refuse an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and have elected to file for free agency.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Craig Calcaterra / Hardball Times:
Programming Note — When I started writing ShysterBall in the spring of 2007, the idea was to give myself a place to be where I could escape the stress and unpleasantness of my legal career, if only for the briefest of moments. As time went on, it began to consume more and more of my waking hours and …
Discussion:
It's About The Money
Associated Press:
Blue Jays CF Wells will have surgery on left wrist … TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will have surgery next week to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist. — The team announced Tuesday that Wells is expected to be ready in time for spring training.
