The Oakland Athletics have signed Akinori Iwamura after the former Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was released on Friday. Iwamura hit for a .182/.292/.267 line in 165 at-bats with the Pirates this year, followed by a .264/.404/.393 line in 163 at-bats in AAA. The Pirates traded Jesse Chavez for Iwamura last off-season, and picked up Iwamura’s $4.85 M option. Oakland will be responsible for some of Iwamura’s salary now, but the amount is very insignificant, amounting to just under $46,000 for the remainder of the 2010 season.
