The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have acquired infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

The 30-year-old Iwamura, who was a nine-year veteran of the Japanese Central League while playing with Yakult from 1998
to 2006, spent the last three seasons playing with Tampa Bay. He was converted from a third baseman to a second baseman following the 2007 campaign and went on to make 152 appearances at second base for the American League champion
Rays in 2008. [READ]

Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett struggled in Game 5, costing the team a chance to clinch the World Series title.

Burnett allowed six runs in two-plus innings against the Phillies and New York went on to lose 8-6.

"I just feel like I let a lot of guys down," Burnett told the Associated Press. "It's the worst feeling in the world, to have a chance to do something special and fail like that. ... I feel like I let the city down." [READ]

David Wells believes that Kate Hudson is the perfect woman for Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Wells wrote in a guest column for the New York Post that Hudson "has sparked his huge postseason."

"She is the perfect complement to him. I know her a little bit and have talked to her quite a few times. She's just a really down-to-earth chick. She'll go to baseball games and have fun. She's just supportive of him, and that empowers him with an "I don't give a damn" attitude," Wells continued. [READ]

Jarrod Washburn is very open to returning to Seattle next season.

Washburn was traded to the Tigers by the Mariners this past summer.

"Seattle definitely is toward the top of my list. I'll just have to see what happens when the free-agent season begins," he told MLB.com.

Washburn added that he was "99 percent" sure he was going to retire after the season, but his plans have changed. [READ]

Padres closer Heath Bell says that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would be perfect for the Red Sox.

"I think if he didn't have to be the main guy on one team, he'd be so much better than he is," Bell told the Boston Herald.

"He'd hit over .300, and he'd definitely hit 35 or 40 home runs because he'd have protection. It's amazing the things he's done with nobody hitting around him in San Diego. He broke the (team) record for walks in one month (32 in June), and then came back and still hit. He's never had any protection. So I think he'd be amazing for anywhere that has protection for him."

Gonzalez has hit for power despite playing in the cavernous Petco Park.

"I don't think the park's all that bad for him, because all of his power's (opposite field)," Bell said. "In Fenway, he'd pepper that Wall." [READ]

Phillies ace Cliff Lee has labeled himself as "available" for a possible Game 7 on Thursday night.

The Yankees lead the Phillies 3-2 in the World Series with both of Philadelphia's wins coming with Lee on the mound.

"As far as my availability, I'm available," Lee told the Associated Press after pitching in Game 5.

He'd be pitching on just two days' rest.

"We don't know about that yet," Phillies Charlie Manuel said. "I'll talk to him about what he thinks about if he can pitch at all or something." [READ]

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain says that he wants to start next season.

Chamberlain has been working as a reliever in the postseason after he went 2-4 with a 7.69 ERA over the final two months of the season as a starter.

"Like I said, it's something I've wanted to do for a long time," he told the New York Times of continuing to start. [READ]

The Rays are working to trade second baseman Akinori Iwamura, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

According to sources, the deal doesn't involve either the Cubs or Dodgers.

Tampa Bay has until one day after the end of the World Series to either pick up Iwamura's $4.85 million option or pay a $550,000 buyout and allow him to become a free agent. [READ]

Former Yankees slugger Jim Leyritz insists that a two-car accident in which one person died was not his fault.

He'll stand trail for DUI manslaughter in two months.

"I wasn't doing anything that I thought was against the rules, whether it be the drinking part or the actual driving part," Leyritz told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap.

Leyritz placed blame on the Freida Veitch, the driver of an SUV who died in the accident, nearly two years after the accident.

"There are records that will show that there was text messages and phone calls coming in at that time that could've distracted her," said Leyritz. [READ]

Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will have surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist next week.

Toronto announced on Tuesday that Wells will be ready in time for spring training.

He is entering the third year of a seven-year, $126 million contract.

The Blue Jays also said third baseman Edwin Encarnacion had surgery on Friday to repair a bone spur in his left wrist. [READ]

The mother of Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain faces up to 20 years in prison on a felony drug-sale charge.

Jackie Standley pleaded no contest Monday to delivery of a controlled substance, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

Standley, 44, was arrested in May after selling a gram of methamphetamine to an undercover officer at her Lincoln apartment. [READ]

David Ortiz hopes to finish his career with the Red Sox, even though they have already begun to think about getting more production out of the DH slot in the lineup.

“I want to finish my career here,” he said. “I think I still have another three or four good years in me. It’s not like I’m going to play until I’m 50, but I know I can still swing the bat. All I know is last year I had the worst two months of my career and still almost ended up at 30 and 100.”

The Red Sox want Ortiz to arrive at Spring Training in excellent physical shape, something that should be easier for him since he had wrist surgery last winter.

“That’s the only difference,” he said. “I’m going to start hitting sooner. Last year I couldn’t swing until the end of January. But I’m fine. I’m going to do what I always do. I’m going to work out and hit in the Dominican (Republic) and get physically strong.

“Just leave it up to Big Papi. We’ll be fine.” [READ]

The Cubs and John Grabow are discussing a multi-year contract.

The two sides are talking about a two-year deal for anywhere between a total of $6.5 million and $7.5 million. Grabow's people would like a vesting option for a third year added to the contract. [READ]

Dodgers manager Joe Torre knows what Yankees manager Joe Girardi is currently going through.

Needing one win to capture a World Series title in 1996, Torre remembers having trouble relaxing. Thirteen years later, Girardi's Yankees are one win from a championship.

"All of a sudden, you realize you have this opportunity," Torre told the New York Times. "It was the first time that I was actually nervous because we were on the verge of clinching."

New York lost in Philadelphia on Monday night, shifting the World Series to Yankee Stadium with the Yankees leading 3-2.

"It's not only special, it's amazing. I think last night was probably a tough night for Joey to sleep," Torre added. [READ]

Larry Bowa believes that the Yankees are having so many mound conferences was because the Phillies have a reputation of stealing signs.

Bowa, a former manager of the Phillies, made the comment on Comcast SportsNet.

"There's rumors going around that when you play the Phillies, there's a camera somewhere or bullpen people are giving signs," Bowa told ESPN 950 Monday. "And catchers are constantly changing signs. That's the rumor. Now, is it proven? No."

Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino denied allegations.

"For Bowa to come out and say something like that if he doesn't know what he's talking about - if he doesn't have cold, hard facts - he shouldn't say something like that," Victorino said. "I don't want to use the word I'm going to use, but it's just not something that should be said. ... That's just weak, I guess." Victorino told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Obviously, if we're stealing signs, we would be doing better than what we're doing right now." [READ]

Phillies pitchers Brett Myers and Cole Hamels had a confrontation in the clubhouse following the team's Game 5 win on Monday night.

The incident stemmed from comments Hamels made over the weekend about the "mental drain" of the season that he wished would end.

As Myers walked past Hamels he said, mocking, "What are you doing here? I thought you quit."

Hamels responded with a expletive and Myers was guided away by a team official before things escalated. [READ]

Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino was hit on the hand with a pitch on Monday night, but says that he didn't break any bones.

"Two thumbs up - no fracture," Victorino told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

He took a fastball to the hand from Yankees starter A.J. Burnett on a bunt attempt in the first inning. Victorino had an X-ray during the game.

"Shane got hit on the finger," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "As the game went on, the finger kept swelling. It was bruised. And it started getting bigger. He couldn't grip the ball, and he also couldn't grip the bat."

Victorino was upset when Manuel took him out of the game in the late innings. [READ]

Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur has undergone thumb surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training.

The procedure repaired a torn ligament in his left thumb.

Francoeur was injured while making a diving catch against Philadelphia on July 23. [READ]

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels clarified some controversial comments.

He wants to pitch again in the World Series if the team needs him in a potential Game 7.

Hamels upset fans and created a stir when he said that he couldn't wait for the season to be over after a poor performance in Saturday night's Game 3.

"Sometimes I might not say the best things or the smartest things, but I've learned and am learning," he said. "I wasn't able to sleep the past couple of nights because of it."

Hamels allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-5 loss in Game 3.

"I can't wait for it to end," Hamels said after the game. "It's been mentally draining. At year's end, you just can't wait for a fresh start."

He reached out to manager Charlie Manuel to make sure they were on the same page.

"I think Charlie knows me. He has managed me for quite a few years. I think the only doubt it left in people's minds were the fans, and you know, it hurts. I love the city of Philadelphia, I play as hard as I possibly can. I might not necessarily have the results that they hope [for], but I know that if I go out there, and do everything I possibly can, and in the end they see [that], then I think they can respect that." [READ]

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley hit his fifth home run of the World Series on Monday night in Game 5.

Philadelphia extended the series with an 8-6 win over New York. With a pair of homers, Utley is tied with Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a single World Series.

"Obviously it's great company," Utley said. "It's pretty surreal." [READ]

Philadelphia somehow held on for an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees on Monday night in Game 5 of the World Series.

Chase Utley hit two home runs to raise his Series total to a record-tying five, Cliff Lee won again and the Phillies cut its deficit to 3-2, according to an Associated Press report. [READ]

Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has approved a roster substitution for the New York Yankees due to an injury sustained by outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Cabrera will be replaced by infielder Ramiro Pena for the remainder of the 2009 World Series.

MLB postseason rules provide that injured players can be replaced during the World Series if the severity of the injury, as determined by Major League Baseball, is such that it would require a disabled list assignment during the regular season. [READ]

The Giants have announced that Hensley Meulens has been named the club's hitting coach, club Senior Vice President and GM Brian Sabean announced today.

Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens spent the past season as the triple-A hitting coach for the Fresno Grizzlies, guiding the team to the sixth-highest batting avg. in the Pacific Coast League with a .275 mark. Two of the Grizzlies' batters placed in the top 10 for highest batting avg. in the PCL with John Bowker leading the league with a .342 clip and Jesus Guzman placing fifth with a .321 mark. [READ]

The Yankees will be without center fielder Melky Cabrera in Game 5 of the World Series.

Brett Gardner will start in center field and bat seventh.

Cabrera injured his hamstring while running out a groundout in Sunday night's Game 4.

In addition, Jose Molina will catch A.J. Burnett and bat eighth. With the game at Citizens Bank Park, catcher Jorge Posada will begin the game on the bench. [READ]

An ex-girlfriend of Alex Rodriguez claims that the Yankees slugger had portraits of himself as a centaur hanging over his bed.

"He was so vain," the woman told Us Weekly. "He had not one, but two painted portraits of himself as a centaur. You know, the half man, half horse figure?"

Rodriguez's new fling, Kate Hudson, is reportedly trying to make him less of an egomaniac. [READ]

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was bumped from his favorite seats at Yankee Stadium on the first night of the World Series.

He was bumped in favor of Michelle Obama.

He complained during the ALCS when he and his wife didn't have seats to the right of the Yankee dugout.

"The White House didn't want Giuliani to be sitting with Michelle. She was assigned the seats near the dugout and he was moved," a source told the New York Post. [READ]

The Yankees and Phillies could be headed for a brawl in spring training.

ESPN's Buster Olney predicts that the two clubs are headed for a brawl this spring. Alex Rodriguez has made it clear that he feels Philadelphia's pitchers are throwing at him on purpose.

The two clubs play each other repeatedly in March. [READ]

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has 15 RBIs this postseason.

He's tied with Scott Brosius (1998) and Bernie Williams (1996) for first on the franchise's all-time list.


[READ]

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon says that the team has long discussed stealing two bases on a single pitch.

Damon stole second and third in Sunday night's Game 4, putting himself in position to score the game-winning run.

New York discussed the play in prior seasons when Jason Giambi saw defensive shifts all the time.

Philadelphia used a similar shift against Mark Teixeira, giving Damon the opportunity steal second and third with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. [READ]

The Rangers haven't ruled out the possibility of bringing Milton Bradley back.

Texas officials aren't in active talks with the Cubs, who are shopping Bradley, but they are talking internally about it as they look to improve their offense.

Bradley has two years and $20 million left on his contract. [READ]

Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has roughly a week to decide on his player option for the 2010 season.

If he picks up the option, Ramirez will make $20 million next season. He has until Nov. 10 or five days after the World Series ends, whichever comes first, to decide.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com writes that there isn't a guarantee that he'll pick up the option simply because he's Manny and his agent is Scott Boras. [READ]

A Philadelphia newspaper has apologized to readers for mistakenly running an ad congratulating the Phillies on winning back-to-back World Series titles.

The ad was printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The three-quarter-page Macy's ad features a T-shirt with the Phillies logo, the commissioner's trophy and the phrase "Back To Back World Series Champions."

New York leads Philadelphia 3-1 in the World Series. [READ]