According to reports out of Pittsburgh, the Rays are close to announcing a trade sending second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for relief pitcher Jesse Chavez.

Chavez, a 26-year-old righthander, was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 73 appearances for the Pirates last season. Overall, he has pitched in 88 major league games and has a 1-5 record and 4.48 ERA.

It’s believed that at least one other player may be involved in the deal.

The Rays have only until the day after the World Series to decide whether to exercise a $4.85 option on Iwamura’s contract for 2010 or pay a $550,000 buyout out let him become a free agent. Speculation has been circulating for weeks that the Rays might pick up the option and trade Iwamura.

Iwamura has hit .281 with a .354 on-base percentage and 104 RBIs in his three seasons with the Rays - playing third base in 2007 and second base the last two years.
His 2009 season was abbreviated by a knee injury that cost him more than three months, but Iwamura managed to hit .290 with a .355 on-base percentage in 69 games.

Although “Aki” has said he would consider a pay cut to remain in Tampa Bay, it’s believed the Rays are leaning toward 2009 all-star Ben Zobrist or minor leaguer Sean Rodriguez at second for 2010. Rodriguez was obtained from the Angels in the Scott Kazmir trade