The Rays had already decided they had good enough alternatives at second base that they weren't going to pick up the $4.85 million option to keep Akinori Iwamura.

But that didn't make saying goodbye any easier.

"It's tough to put into words what Aki's meant to this organization," executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "I like cite this example a lot when talking about the (organization's) transformation from '07 to '08, how selfless Aki was when we sat him down at the end of '07 and talked to him about moving to second base.

"And essentially his comment was, 'Whatever it takes to help the team win.' And I think all of his teammates saw that and really respected that, as did the organization. So that's just one anecdote. But he's meant a lot to this organization both on and off the field."

Iwamura, 30, was a key player for the Rays for three seasons, hitting .281 with a .354 on-base percentage and filling the leadoff role. But with Ben Zobrist, Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac all available to play second and Evan Longoria entrenched at third, they no longer had use for him.

The Rays are still discussing different scenarios, but one they are talking a lot about is platooning Zobrist, who would also get time in right field, with Rodriguez, who was acquired from the Angels in the Scott Kazmir trade.

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