6/16 15:49: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Pirates are willing to eat a lot of money in order to trade him. The team has also talked to Iwamura about going to Triple-A.

6/16 13:50: According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have designated second baseman Akinori Iwamura for assignment. Iwamura, the team’s highest paid player at $4.25 million for this season was not getting much playing time lately.

Akinori, 31, was hitting .182/.292/.267 in 54 games with the Pirates this season. He was acquired by the Pirates from the Tampa Bay Rays last November for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez.