Who Claimed Alex Rios?

m2k989 · #1 08-07-2009, 02:53 PM

Everyone gets excited about the trade deadline, but most people (myself included) know a lot less about the waiver period that follows it. As best I understand it, lots of major league players are placed on waivers, and very few are claimed. If your player is claimed, however, you get three choices:

-The original team can the trade the player to the team that claimed him (but no other team)
-The original team can pull the player off waivers, no harm done
-The original team can allow the claiming team to have the player, at his current contract, no trade necessary.

According to ESPN, RF Alex Rios has been claimed, and we don't know by what team. Rios is in the first year of a 7-year contract paying him about $10 million a year, and his numbers have been down (.261/12/58). The Jays have until Tuesday to resolve the situation, and there's considerable speculation that the Jays want to lose Rios' contract.

So now the question is, who claimed him? Whoever did has to be prepared to pay his remaining salary this year, and have him on the books for 6 more years. Waiver priority is in reverse order of record, so the weaker teams had the first shot. Any guesses?

TyKixx · #2 08-07-2009, 02:55 PM

Mets

Imperial1 · #3 08-07-2009, 02:56 PM

SF...nah prob the Bosox they have injuries everywhere in the outfield

dolfan2004 · #4 08-07-2009, 03:06 PM

Boston had Youk playing left the other day, they are a safe bet.

bnbhard · #5 08-07-2009, 03:20 PM

mlbtraderumors.com is saying it is not the Redsox or the Mets. I am thinking its the Giants, but maybe the Whitesox?

TyKixx · #6 08-07-2009, 03:29 PM

White Sox going to play him in center? SF seems logical. They've pursued him in the past. Could also have just been someone claiming him with no intentions of acquiring him, but simply to block him from going to someone else. For example, the Twins could have claimed him to keep him from Detroit.

bnbhard · #7 08-07-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyKixx

White Sox going to play him in center? SF seems logical. They've pursued him in the past. Could also have just been someone claiming him with no intentions of acquiring him, but simply to block him from going to someone else. For example, the Twins could have claimed him to keep him from Detroit.

The reason I say the Whitesox is because they have alot of money coming off the books at the end of the season (something like 43 million) so they could afford it.

to the other part in bold::

Yes, but from my understanding, the Twins would have to except him and his contract if the bluejays decided they didn't need prospects or a trade, they just want him off their books, so you claimed him he is yours. 60 million is alot to gamble with.

detna3333 · #8 08-07-2009, 04:12 PM

It has to be the Giants. His Swing is perfect for AT&T Park. Question is whether they want to take on his salary. San Fran has a lot of big contracts and they are going to need some dough to re-sign Cain, Lincecum, and Sandoval long term

S2000ManiaC · #9 08-07-2009, 04:17 PM

wow he has 6 more years?

holy shit

TyKixx · #10 08-07-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnbhard

Yes, but from my understanding, the Twins would have to except him and his contract if the bluejays decided they didn't need prospects or a trade, they just want him off their books, so you claimed him he is yours. 60 million is alot to gamble with.

This is true, however I can't say I have actually ever seen this happen. I can't imagine Toronto is that desperate to get rid of him for nothing. I am sure they could find a taker in the offeason and at least get something in return for him as well as still getting his salary off the books.

m2k989 · #11 08-07-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detna3333

It has to be the Giants. His Swing is perfect for AT&T Park. Question is whether they want to take on his salary. San Fran has a lot of big contracts and they are going to need some dough to re-sign Cain, Lincecum, and Sandoval long term

Well, Sandoval and Lincecum are both within their first couple years of ML service, so the Giants have them locked down for a long time. Cain has a contract that includes a club option for 2011, so they just need to sign him long term by then. On the flip side, Randy Winn, Randy Johnson and Bengie Molina combine to make about $24 million right now, all their deals expire after this year, and especially with Buster Posey in the system, the Giants aren't likely to invest much in any of them. I'd argue that they could afford Rios now if they believe he's better than what they could get on the open market.

trainwreck · #12 08-07-2009, 06:19 PM

Giants have been rumored to have interest in Rios for a few years.

I think it is them.

baller263 · #13 08-07-2009, 06:23 PM

MLB Trade Rumors reported that the Giants VP "strongly hinted" that the Giants did not claim him. Though I don't buy it, it seems very logical for them to land another bat, especially one they have coveted in the past. Adding Garko, Sanchez, and Rios would easily make us favorites for the Wildcard.

pswift00 · #14 08-07-2009, 08:02 PM

Tonight during the O's-Jays game, Buck Martinez said it was the BoSox.

The Rattler · #15 08-08-2009, 04:12 AM

When I heard the news at work then I thought it might have been my D-Backs but if he's on the books for six years then probably not..

Bosox or Giants..