The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Alex Rios on waivers after failing to trade him prior to the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline, but one of the team’s that was in the mix for Rios has reportedly decided that they are ready to make another move and they put in a claim for the White Sox right fielder.
Rios was claimed by the Texas Rangers, so now the White Sox would need to complete a trade to Texas if they plan to move Rios.
From Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
"The Texas Rangers are the claiming team, according to the Dallas Morning News. The deadline for the White Sox to trade Rios, dump him on the Rangers or pull him back from waivers is believed to be Friday.The Rangers also pursued Rios before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The question is whether they are willing to satisfy the White Sox with a trade offer when they would assume the balance of Rios’ $12.5 million salary this season, just under $4 million, plus an additional $15 million in salary and buyout in 2014.Still, the Rangers have a clear need for Rios, thanks to the suspension of right fielder Nelson Cruz."
The Pittsburgh Pirates were also a team that was close to acquiring Rios before the trade deadline, but the talks fell apart. Now, Chicago will be forced to decide what their next move is with the outfielder.
It is unlikely that the White Sox will trade Rios if they were unwilling to do so by the deadline, so we can expect them to pull him off of waivers and stash him away as another bargaining chip for when the market reopens next season.