A slugging third baseman in Japan, Akinori Iwamura became a decent infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was signed to a three year, $7.7 Million contract prior to the 2007 season, as the Rays were hoping to use Iwamura as a piece towards contending.
Iwamura did his part from the beginning. Although he was not the free swinging slugger he had been in Japan, Iwamura was still a solid player, producing a .285/.359/.411 batting line while finishing second in the American League with ten triples. Although he slumped in 2008, Iwakuma was on pace for a solid 2009 campaign before he tore a knee ligament, which resulted in Ben Zobrist seizing control of second base.