August 7, 2009, at 4:12 pm
Baseball is confusing. Yes, there is a trade deadline but it’s more of a deadline in name only. Players are still able to be traded, although they have to clear waivers first. With the current economic crunch no team wants to take on salary and it’s very likely that many players will clear waivers. So far Chad Guadin, Greg Zaun, Carl Pavano among others have been traded. However the biggest name might be about to be moved.
Alex Rios was claimed on waivers. We don’t know what team claimed him but the Blue Jays now have several options.
1) They can work out a trade with said unnamed team.
2) They can pull Rios off waivers, making him ineligible to be traded for the rest of the yea.
3) They can let Rios go to said claiming team for nothing. The benefit for the Jays is obvious financial relief. They would save two million this year and a whole lot of money over the life of the contract. Rios is set to earn salaries of $9.7 million in 2010, $12 million in 2011, $12 million in 2012, $12.5 million in 2013, and $12.5 million in 2014. The Jays hold a club option on Rios of $13.5 million for 2015, with a $1 million buyout.
So what happens now? It remains to be seen but it certainly is something to pay attention. Rios is having a down year but Vernon Wells he is not. Rios is a good player with above average offense and excellent defense. He can swing a pennant race and the cost conscious Jays might give him away for nothing.
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