http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2112906&vkey=trade2007&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlbPHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies didn't waste any time filling their need for a second baseman, acquiring Tadahito Iguchi from the White Sox on Friday for Minor League right-hander Michael Dubee.
The Phillies hope Iguchi can fill the void left by All-Star Chase Utley, who underwent surgery on his broken hand Friday morning and could miss up to four weeks.
Manager Charlie Manuel penciled Abraham Nunez in the lineup at second base Friday, but assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said they thought Iguchi would bring more offense to the position.
Iguchi, 32, was batting .251 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 90 games this season. In 16 games against National League teams in 2007, he hit .311 (19-61). A native of Tokyo, Japan, Iguchi batted .281 last season with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 138 games and appeared in 12 playoff games for the White Sox in 2005.
Iguchi spent eight seasons with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, where he was a four-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves as a second baseman. With Fukuoka, Iguchi hit .271 with 149 home runs and 507 RBIs and collected 159 stolen bases.
In the Majors, Iguchi has a .273 lifetime average with 39 home runs and 169 RBIs. He was making $3.25 million this season with the White Sox.
Wow, nice work Lannan
I would suggest trading for Iguchi, since he's going to go super cheap once Chase comes back, but we've already got a logjam at second.
