White Sox get Alex Rios … and now are Central favorites
Leave it to Chicago White Sox Kenny Williams to pull not only the biggest surprise move before the July 31 trade deadline but also the biggest after.
The White Sox were awarded a claim on former Blue Jays All-Star outfielder Alex Rios on Monday night. That means Chicago gets Rios for absolutely nothing from Toronto, which decided to let Rios go to get out from under his nearly $60 million owed through 2014.
Rios has decent numbers this year, hitting .264 with 14 homers, 62 RBIs and 19 steals, but he has been a disappointment since signing a six-year, $69.35 million deal in April 2008. Rios, 28, is a career .285 hitter in six seasons with the Blue Jays, including All-Star seasons in 2006, when he hit .302 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs, and ‘07 (.297 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs).
He could be in the lineup for Chicago as soon as Tuesday night’s game in Seattle – bet on it at WagerWeb.com. Chicago is three games behind the Tigers in the AL Central.
Rios’ arrival will cut into the playing time of outfielders Jermaine Dye, Scott Podsednik and Carlos Quentin, whom Williams revealed is being nagged by a knee injury as he returns from plantar fasciitis.
“(Rios) should be better now, coming to a better park to hit in (U.S. Cellular Field) than Toronto,” first baseman Paul Konerko said. “There are only so many positions for so many guys, so hopefully it’s smooth.”
Look for Rios to play mostly center field for the White Sox after playing right with Toronto. The White Sox have been looking for a center fielder since trading Aaron Rowand to the Phillies after winning the 2005 World Series; Rios is sort of like the Angels’ Torii Hunter, who turned down the White Sox as a free agent before last season.
The White Sox seem to be both going for the AL Central title this year and building for the future, as Rios joins new addition Jake Peavy, who also is owed nearly $60 million on a long-term contract. Peavy isn’t expected to pitch for the White Sox until the end of this month.
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