2:43pm: Nothing is close for the Rangers with Rios or anyone else, tweets Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
12:24pm: The Rangers and Giants are in “ongoing” trade discussions for Rios, tweets FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi.
11:29am: The Mariners want Rios, tweets Rosenthal, but the Rangers are “closer elsewhere” in trade talks.
THURSDAY, 11:08am: The Royals, Giants and Mariners are all in the mix for Rios, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. To a lesser degree, he adds, the Reds and Indians are in the mix. The Yankees aren’t heavily involved at this time, says Heyman.
WEDNESDAY, 2:03pm: Trade talks for Rios are “gaining traction” in several places, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
8:04am: The Rangers are willing to eat some of the remaining salary on Alex Rios’ deal, but talks could still go down to the wire, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Rosenthal hears that interest from several Rios suitors — including the Indians, Giants, Reds and Royals — has waned of late.
At least four teams were said to be in on Rios over the weekend, but there’s been little chatter regarding the right fielder since that time. The 33-year-old is batting a strong .305/.334/.430 this season, but his power has declined in 2014. Rios has just four homers on the season after belting 18 last year and 25 in 2012. He’s owed roughly $4.23MM of his $12.5MM salary for the remainder of the 2014 season, plus a $1MM buyout on a $13.5MM option for the 2015 campaign.
The Rangers have already dealt Jason Frasor to the Royals and Joakim Soria to the Tigers, and given Rios’ contractual situation, he’s a logical trade chip as well. However, the Rangers seem unwilling to listen to offers on Adrian Beltre and Yu Darvish — both of whom they’re hoping will contribute to a contending club in 2015 once their roster is back to full health.
Don’t kid yourself, Walt Joketty will not make a big trade to help his team. Maybe he should dump payroll and wait till next year
Hope your wrong but I don’t think you are. I feel like Walt more than any other GM is always signing the lack of funds blues. Kind of tired of it at this point.
reds payroll is jumping to 160m in next couple years.(new tv contract) thats why votto and homers big $$$$ years are later on in their contracts.
I keep hearing this.
I’m a reds fan and I’m almost rooting not to trade for rios or anyone at this point. I don think it’s too late to come back from 5 games back but with the injuries this team has suffered and votto and Phillips being out for a long while yet I feel this isn’t the best year to trade future pieces to go for it. I think shelling some salary in trading Broxton now and trading a starting pitcher during the offseason would be good moves to free up money to hopefully sign 2/3 free agent pitchers after 2015 (Cueto latos leake) and land a bat. ludwick is I believe 7-8 million this year and he comes off the book at the end Of this season and trading for rios making 10-13 million this year or next doesn’t seem logical for long term. Unless texas is throwing in a lot of money.
They should seriously be trying to unload a starter take your pick of Latos Bailey Simon or Leake and Broxton. Latos Simon and Leake are all free agents after 2015. Try and get a major league ready OF prospect in return for a starter and get some other minor league depth for Broxton. Sign the 2 pitchers you don’t trade long term and they would be set.
I agree. You forgot Cueto in that lost of free agents too after 2015
Trade one of the or even two of the SP along with Broxton. Resign the other two SP they don’t trade
The Reds shouldn’t have tried to be “big time” and sign Votto to his ridiculous contract. Didn’t they watch the Yankees anchor themselves into the hole they are fighting out of currently.
You are damn right. Walt won’t do anything. I don’t know if a declining Rios is really an upgrade. But then again, you have a declining Ludwick and Heisey could not hit his way out of a wet paper bag.
AJ Cole, Steven Souza, and some low level guy from the Nats for Beltre. Make it happen
Depending on the third piece, the Rangers should at least consider that offer. Nats should be desperate for a 2B-3B. Souza can be an immediate replacement for Rios.
I just don’t see it. 1) Souza is virtually untested at MLB, so an instant replacement for Rios? We already have Michael Choice and a host of other AAA outfielders.
2) We only need a replacement for Rios if he is traded first, so this trade seems secondary to begin with.
3) Adam Rosales is our best AAA 3B, and despite his impressive HR numbers, Joey Gallo isn’t ready yet, so who are you suggesting the Rangers get to replace Beltre? The Rangers are very much planning to compete with a healthy 2015 team and losing one of the biggest pieces in their lineup just doesn’t make ANY sense.
4) Joakim Soria brought in 2 of Detroit’s top 5 prospects, and you’re suggesting the same but with a throw in for Adrian Beltre… Beltre has been an MVP candidate the last 4 years while Soria hasn’t competed for an award in that long.
You do realize that Rios is a decling 33 year, who is owed nearly 17.75 million (if the option is picked up), that should no longer be hitting in the middle of the Ranger’s offensive lineup, dont you? What part of .305/.334/.430 (4 HRs & 16 SB’s) warrants a salary of 13.5 million next year? Those types of numbers can be had for much cheaper. Not sure Choice, or any of the AAA OF’s are the answer, but you dont pay that much money for a player based on his results 5 years ago. Rios is simply no longer that player. Trade him, move on, and dont handcuff yourself with another bad contract to a player who isnt earning his money.
Adding to my point:
Rios has 4 HR’s – 82 other Major League OF’s have hit more.
Rios has 43 RBI – 31 other Major League OF’s have had more.
Rios has 16 SB – 16 other Major League OF’s have had more.
Rios YTD WAR is 0.6 – 81 Major League OF’s have higher YTD WAR ratings.
You do realize that my points had to do with trading Beltre, right?? Why are you bothering to argue Rios’s value to me?
If Rios can get Thompson then the best AL third baseman who Leads thirdbaseman in Ops Slugghing and batting average could probably demand Giolito especially with the nationals pushing so hard
Obviously the deadline is done, but Giolito for a 35yr old Beltre would have been bats^&% crazy.
Ship us Michael Taylor.
I’m trying to figure out why the Ms are not linked more to Rios? It seams like a perfect fit to add a 300 hitter to our lineup would be awesome. Ms need to get this done and stop trying to get the guy that can maybe hit a few homers but only going to bat 220….
Same here. I think theyre going for a big arm (Lester) and a bat is thier back up plan. We could use another top notch starter in the rotation but we could use a bat even more.
I’ve been saying this for the past month! Rios should be top priority for the Mariners, and Texas is at the point of even offering “cash” in the deal like ChiSox did when Texas picked him up. It also sounds like LAD is desperate to move Kemp too.
1. Rios AND Kemp
2. One of Lester, Price, Hamels, Lee
Seattle could very well go on a 20 game winning streak with just a ‘little’ bit of offense (kemp & Rios would be a LOT of added offense for Seattle) with their current Pitching & Defense being the top in MLB!
Rios and Lester would be fine by me. No on Kemp, too much $ and too many years. Price and Hamels cost is out of this world and Lee isn’t healthy yet. Lester only if he costs a rental’s cost. Good prospects but not many. Otherwise… stand Pat.
Dodgers will end up paying half of Kemp’s salary, so I say YES on Kemp if you can get his salary in the $11m/yr range. He just hit 2 HRs yesturday and even in a down year his current 2014 batting stats are better than 95% of majority of our guys!
Exactly the more money the dodgers eat the better return they’ll get for Kemp but it won’t be anything in the top 10. But if they want people to take kemps contract they’ll have to give up a high prospect for the team to do so. Trading Urias Seager Lee or Pederson and kemps entire contract would clear up a lot of room for the dodgers to make moves. They’re already the top payroll team in the league and need to resign Hanley, get bullpen help, a 5th starter, and a 3rd base guy. Clearing 100 mill owed to kemp keeps payroll about the same and improves other areas. I doubt ownership wants to break then 250 mill payroll mark. That’s a lot of money to not win a WS.
The M’s org doesn’t talk. You rarely hear what they are up to. Hearing nothing may be better. Everyone speculated Morales was a fit for the M’s, but we heard nothing until after the deal was done.
Seager should be ahead of Morales at this point until Morales swing starts coming together! I really like Ackley and Taylor in the #1 and #2 spot at this point, but Seager needs to be #4 behind Cano at this point!
Jack Z doesn’t invest in established hitters if there are marginal or bad hitters available on the cheap.
I guarantee you the Rangers are trying to extract a top prospect in return for Rios. He’s not worth that IMHO, but the Rangers know Jack Z is desperate to save his job and they’re hoping that overrides logic. Here’s to hoping he sticks to his guns and refuses to include a top prospect. If Lester is worth a year of Cespedes, Rios isn’t worth more than a bullpen arm or lower-level prospect.
But the problem is that you have the Royals also in, and Dayton Moore is also desperate to save his job by making the playoffs. Rangers have to be playing those two desperate GMs against each other.
Yankees are looking for a bat for RF. There’s your guy and the rangers are willing to eat money! Get it done
Judge and a few low level guys for Rios?
Rios for Judge and Jake Cave sounds fair. Hopefully for the Rangers one of those two pans out.
Mariners
I hope so! I think he’d help the offense more than the other names I see the M’s connected to.
Come on Mets, get in on this.
The other day, Jamey Newberg (Rangers Fan/Writer) suggested Alex Rios and AA 2B Odubel Herrera to Cincy in exchange for Ben Lively and Jesse Winker. Just curious to hear the thoughts of Red’s fans.
Reds won’t trade either of those guys for Rios. They’d need a younger, more impact bat to move those two together. Winker is the Reds #1 hitting prospect, in a system lacking high-end outfield prospects. Check out Lively’s strikeout numbers, he’s not going to get moved for a Rios type either.
My thoughts exactly.
Rios is kind of a diva. As a Ranger fan I’d love to get rid of him. At this point I don’t really care what we get for him.
…also said by every White Sox fan who ever watched him for any extended time.
I think he has been perfectly fine until recently. It seems he has lost interest which has been noted by previous clubs. I still care what they get for him considering they could keep him next year. The power outage is bothersome but he is still hitting over .300. He just has a lot of empty #’s when you look at the current situation.
I saw him quite a bit with the Sox and he could be two different players for long stretches. He’s solid going well…but when he looks disinterested…you’d be better batting a pitcher.
he immediately came over last year and was exceptional. This year he has been really solid, just empty #’s as I mentioned before. A couple weeks ago you could tell the light was dim. That is not what you want sticking around for the next couple of months rotting in the heat. If the return is worth more than the option, I’d say please do it.
I think he’s a solid secondary piece for a larger market club that contends. I don’t think beyond a stretch run he’s the right piece for anyone else. he was perfect for a contending Ranger club.
I agree. He has been the most dependable player this season though. Missed just a few games with the ankle issue. At any rate, I am all for the Rangers boosting their assets. I just don’t know what to think about their immediate future.
I think they bounce back in 2015 much like the Angels have. I’d be more concerned if they were about 3 over .500 right now, actually. They have solid management
No movement for him it appears. Hmmm, I have to wonder if the return value was less than enticing or if they just wanted to keep him?
No sense in moving him unless a team like KC wants to overpay prospect wise to counteract Price. That’s not happening.. especially without money also going to KC. Texas doesn’t need to be in sell mode
well I can somewhat agree. I just think if you have a chance, which apparently they didn’t, to add some depth to your farm system, go ahead and do it. So back to my skepticism in regards to not doing anything. It must mean nothing of any significance was offered.
It’s all going to come down to the mound, though. Mlb offense is generally consistent from team to team.. especially in the smaller sample sizes. Put a good, healthy, staff out there and you can win games
2015 might be a shootout in the west. It’s not so much that Oak-Tex-LA look so close…its that Seattle and Houston are improving… when the division is won by 3 games or less
..that really matters
Im betting the Mariners are in on him
I’d definitely have interest, depending on the asking price.
I’d definitely have interest, depending on the asking price.
I would like to see a good return for him as he is a worth a good pitching prospect.
Mariners make the most sense if the price is right. Rios isn’t an upgrade for most teams within reach of a wild card spot, but he’d be a significant upgrade for the Mariners given their terrible outfielders. They shouldn’t have to give up much talent in return. Rios isn’t worth a top tier prospect. I’d look for maybe two lower tier prospects plus some money – maybe enough to cover the cost of buying out his 2015 option.
I’d agree…though SF profiles about the same. The one place I think would be a mistake would be KC…I believe they need to be a bit more selective on what veteran they bring in
Good for the Mariners. I dont see how they wouldnt have the right trade chips to get a deal done for Rios.
They can get a deal done but at what cost? Texas will surely ask for a bit better package to trade within the division.
And if they know the team has the chips, they’ll certainly ask for them. The Rangers won’t let the Mariners get a guy like Rios unless it could hurt the Mariners in the long run a little bit.
Lincecum for Rios, bringing 2007 back!
I would love Brian Sabean forever if he could pull off that trade.
We would never take Lincecum
C’mon Sabean… pull the trigger!!
I am terrified to see who Sabean gives up to get Rios…
Me too… but still, we need Rios
Maybe we get Kyle Crick
We really don’t though. He’s an expensive, marginal at best upgrade.
True, he always gives up too much.
I thought Center field and second base and or another starting pitcher was in Sabeans sites….what does Rios play right field?
He can play LF,CF,RF. Giants ain’t after pitching now, mainly 2B / OF help.
I think that if we acquire a good offensive outfielder and get Pagan/Belt back, being weak at second base doesn’t hurt us nearly as bad.
I like the idea of adding another outfielder, because it gives Bochy a lot of options, as he can play Morse at first some games, let him DH against AL teams, and then Pagan doesn’t have to play every day while he works himself back from injury.
If the Giants happen to get Rios, they could use him in LF, yes Morse is there but he’s been slumping, then could also push Blanco out.
Alex Rios for Buster Posey. Make it happen, Sabean!
Dont forget Kyle Crick too
I’m sure Dodger fans would love that deal
Yes please, I would take that. It’s better than anybody the rangers have.
Rangers should eat NO salary. Keeping Rios is not a bad deal and they can deal him next year or package with Andrus or Odor or Profar and throw in Washington.
No we should eat all of the salary and get Kyle Crick just kidding we would get posey (;
The M’s should not be asking for any salary relief in a Rios deal. And their plan at this point should be to exercise his option. They have no one in their system who is likely to outperform him next season. I have no idea what Texas likes in our system, but Rios is worth perhaps a B-level prospect or a top reliever prospect. There’s some excess value above his contract given the scarcity of hitting, but it’s just for 1.5 years. The fact that several teams are bidding will also drive up the price. The M’s could very easily overpay here and regret it later so I can see why Z would be cautious.
I hope we deal with the M’s because they are desperate
Remember the lincecum for rios rumors?
Denorfia to SEA. Rios to SF soon?
Fail by the Rangers/
Are you surprised?
A little. Teams must not have seen Cotts as important and the market was obviously slow for left handed RP. I thought maybe Rios would be moved but apparently the return value was lackluster.
They will try and pass him through waivers later – so he could still be traded…