In Neal Huntington's first major transaction prioritizing the present above the future, the Pirates' general manager last night acquired veteran infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for rookie reliever Jesse Chavez.

Yes, a veteran for a rookie.

A player making close to $5 million for one making less than a tenth of that.

A pending free agent for someone whose rights can be controlled five more years.

Not exactly the blueprint this management team had been following.

"Our goal for 2010 is to be a better team," Huntington said. "We've made a lot out of having years of control, and our hope is that this is more than a one-year fit for us and for Akinori. But our expectation in 2010 is to play better baseball and to win more games, and we felt like this was an opportunity for us to begin to turn the corner, to move in a positive direction not just below the major league level but at the top level, as well."

The immediate fallout:

• The Pirates, as part of the trade, exercised Iwamura's 2010 club option worth $4.85 million, immediately making him their highest-paid player. Starter Paul Maholm will make $4.5 million. After next season, Iwamura can become a free agent.

• Iwamura will be the everyday second baseman, and Ronny Cedeno will stay at shortstop. Management had hoped to upgrade one position or the other.

• Although this will be up to manager John Russell, the Pirates already have discussed batting Iwamura No. 2 in the lineup behind Andrew McCutchen.

• Delwyn Young, who had been tried at second base much of this past season, will return to a bench role.

• Third baseman Andy LaRoche, who just spent a month in the Florida Instructional League learning second base, will remain at third.

Iwamura, who will turn 31 in February, has a .281 career average since arriving in North America to play for Tampa Bay in 2007. He is coming off a season in which he lost 81 games to surgery on his left knee, but he returned in late August -- much earlier than expectations -- and finished with a .290 average, one home run, 16 doubles, two triples and nine steals in 10 attempts over 69 games.

No less important to the Pirates, he has good patience at the plate -- a career .354 on-base percentage underscores that -- and is a very good defender. While in Japan, he won six Gold Gloves.

"This is a solid major league player," Huntington said. "He does a lot of things well, and we've liked him for a long time."

Iwamura had been accustomed to winning, having played only for Tampa Bay in North America and having led the Rays with 172 hits and 91 runs during their run to the American League pennant last year. But he sounded genuinely upbeat about the trade.

"I'm very excited for the new challenge," Iwamura said by phone from Japan, with agent Yoshi Hasagawa translating. "I spoke to Neal Huntington, and I feel very appreciated."

Tampa Bay had been under pressure to move Iwamura because his contract required that his 2010 club option gets exercised or declined within one day after the end of the World Series, which could end tonight in New York. The Rays were not planning to exercise the option and would have paid the $550,000 buyout if no suitor was found.

Iwamura's knee injury was a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament, sustained May 24 when the Florida Marlins' Chris Coghlan collided with him at second base. It was thought he would be out for the year, but he returned for the final six weeks.

The Pirates' scouts saw Iwamura three times in September, and his running time and range were "as good as pre-injury," Huntington said. He was wearing a large brace, though, and it remains to be seen how long he will need it.

"It feels very good, but not 100 percent," Iwamura said of the knee. "I think I already proved I can play at a high level, and I think I can play just like I did in the World Series. I'll be 100 percent for next year."

Chavez, 26, was coming off a strong rookie year in which his 96-mph fastball helped him to a 4.01 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 22 walks in 73 appearances. Russell grew increasingly comfortable using him in late innings, and he would have become a candidate to close next year if Matt Capps faltered.

Chavez cannot become eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season.

"We talked about that at length," Huntington said. "It was tough to give up Jesse, but the bullpen is the most difficult area to predict future performance. In our minds, it was much more difficult to find 600 quality plate appearances than 60 appearances. This is not about Jesse but about all relievers: It's very hard to tell what they're going to do from one year to the next, as we've all seen."

There is another variable: The Pirates could sign Iwamura to an extension, and Huntington strongly suggested they will broach the subject.

"Hopefully, the fans of Pittsburgh make him welcome and wanted and pique his interest in having this be more than one year," Huntington said. "But that's down the road."

"I'm definitely interested in the long term, but I first have to do what I can do," Iwamura said. "We'll see what happens. Hopefully, we can go to the playoffs next season."

Huntington praised Young for his extensive work in trying to show management he could handle second base defensively, but it was clear that Young's best was not enough.

"This returns DY to a role he's excelled at," Huntington said. "And, certainly, he'll be much improved at second base for all the work he put in."

Young batted .266 after a brutal slump to finish his season, but he was a .316 pinch-hitter with a team-high 12 hits.

LaRoche will play third base at least until top prospect Pedro Alvarez is ready for a promotion.

From there ...

"We have one third baseman at the major league level, and that's Andy," Huntington said. "If Aki is not here after next year, and Pedro comes up, Andy could move over to second. If Aki stays, we'll deal with everything as it happens."

For Chavez, the move to Tampa Bay represents a quantum leap in the standings.

"I know the Rays have a lot of talent and, to be honest, I'm kind of antsy already," he said. "This wasn't what I expected, obviously. I don't think anyone did. But, for a team like that to want me, it's cool."

The Pirates' 40-man roster remained at 39.

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