UPDATE: It’s official: three years for $7.7MM, club option at $4.25MM for 2010.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times tells us that third baseman Akinori Iwamura is "on the verge" of being signed to a three-year deal by the Devil Rays. The deal will be something like three years, $7.5MM guaranteed, I’ve heard. Add in the $4.55MM posting fee if you like and they’re getting him for roughly $4MM annually. Not bad at all.
The Devil Rays have a bit of a crowded infield – Iwamura, Greg Norton, Ty Wigginton, Jorge Cantu, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton could all fight for PT. Norton, Iwamura, and Upton can play the outfield as well, and some space could be freed if Cantu and/or Rocco Baldelli are traded.
