According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Rays have won the bidding for Akinori Iwamura.
The Yakult Swallows will likely make it official on Wednesday or Thursday. Iwamura makes a lot of sense for Tampa Bay. He can start at third base over B.J. Upton or play second base, with Jorge Cantu moving to first. There are significant doubts about his power will play in the U.S., but he has upside and the Rays were smart to gamble on him.
If they get him and he turns out even to be decent, this will look like a very good offensive and defensive team. Now if they would get the things that actually help youwin like pitching, they could possibly compete.