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.