A Few More Interesting Tidbits

Rumor has it that the Blue Jays put rightfielder Alex Rios on waivers and someone actually claimed him in spite of a contract that requires him to be paid more than $60M from now through the 2014 season.

The Giants are one of the teams speculated to have put in the claim, given that they have been searching for a right-handed hitting outfielder all season and considered a possible Tim Lincecum for Rios trade before the 2008 season.  The only other team mentioned as possibly making the claim is the Mets, who may still have fantasies that they are one player away from making the post-season this year.

The Blue Jays have three options: (1) they can pull Rios off waivers and keep him; (2) they can try to work out a trade with the team that claimed him; or (3) they can simply waive him and let the claiming team take Rios and his bloated contract.

There is a very strong possibility that the Jays will choose option (3).  Rios is suddenly way overpaid given the current market for corner outfielders, and he hasn’t really been a good player at the plate since 2007.  His OPS is .728 this year, following up on .798 last year.  That’s not much better than Randy Winn (.693 this year, .789 last year).

Rios is only 28 this year, and likely has better seasons than ‘o8 and ‘09 in his future, but it’s still pretty unlikely he will be worth the money he gets over the life of his contract.

Still, this is the kind of move Brian Sabean has liked in the past, picking up an overpriced veteran player to fill a position for several years.  Winn is leaving after this season, and Rios would fill the hole created.  Or course, so would Nate Schierholtz.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox just designated John Smoltz for assignment.  Looks like Smoltz is finally done.

Also, Buster Posey is starting to get the hang of AAA pitching.  He hit homeruns in two of his last three games for the Fresno Grizzlies, and his AAA OPS is up to .781.  I’m sure we’ll see him in San Francisco shortly after the rosters expand September 1.