Alex Rios News: Pro Sports Daily

Rios happy to get away from artificial surface in Toronto

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August 16

Chicago Tribune

"Alex Rios has security in the form of a contract that runs through 2014. And the White Sox's recent waiver claim on him added more life to Rios' legs, especially now that he no longer has to play at least half his games on the artificial turf at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. "You can really feel the difference when you go on trips," Rios said. "During the whole trip you feel good, your hamstrings will be OK, then you get [to Toronto] and you could feel it." Rios, 28, said he also noticed his knees wouldn't ache when he woke up in hotel rooms on the road. In addition to looking forward to playing on the natural grass at U.S. Cellular Field, Rios is eager to settle down in Chicago when the ..."

Stunned Rios heads off to Chicago

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August 11

Toronto Star

"Forty minutes before the first pitch between the Blue Jays and Yankees, Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi ambled into a news conference room at Yankee Stadium and confirmed what a lot of people had suspected since rumours started swirling last week: The Chicago White Sox had acquired outfielder Alex Rios on waivers from the Blue Jays. Chicago didn't give Toronto any players in exchange but did agree to assume Rios' contract, which will pay him more than $60 million (all figures U.S.) between 2010 and 2015. Rios, a two-time all-star, is hitting .264 with 14 HRs and 62 RBIs. After receiving the news, as the Jays and Yankees played the first inning of their game, a red-eyed Rios emerged ..."

White Sox get Rios for nothing

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August 11

Toronto Star

"In the original Jays lineup at Yankee Stadium last night, Alex Rios was listed as the starting right fielder. By 6:30 p.m., the underachieving homegrown Rios was on his way to the White Sox on a simple August waiver claim, with GM J.P. Ricciardi getting nothing in return. Professionally, the GM seems to have become dead man walking. Jays' ownership, represented for now by Ricciardi, unbelievably did not try or else were unable to get anything back. Just two years ago, they were dangling Rios as bait for future Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum from the Giants. They were happy to keep him, convincing fans he could blossom into a 30-30 (homers and steals) player. Now, disappointed by his on-field ..."

Pickup puts future of Pods, Dye in air

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August 11

Chicago Sun-Times

"Scott Podsednik was having trouble finding the words. Maybe because he actually didn't know what to say about the news that the White Sox had claimed Alex Rios off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays hours earlier, or maybe because the dream of signing a contract extension to return to the South Side beyond this season had just taken a big dent for the outfielder. Either way, the move to acquire the 28-year-old Rios will have a lasting fallout on the roster. Now the question is will it be good or will it leave a clubhouse full of Nick Swishers? ''There are a bunch of ways you can look at it,'' outfielder Jermaine Dye explained. ''He does play all three outfield spots, I'm a free agent, ..."

Williams gets his guy

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August 11

Chicago Sun-Times

"Ken Williams had quite a Monday. First, the White Sox general manager acquired Alex Rios off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Then he was ticketed for jaywalking outside Safeco Field. One will cost him a small fine. The other could further define his legacy on the South Side -- one way or the other. Williams sent a text to manager Ozzie Guillen before arriving at the ballpark to let the skipper know that they had added the 28-year-old outfielder to the roster, as well as Rios' guaranteed $59.7 million contract that runs through 2014. ''I told you guys when Kenny is going to make a move, it stays with him,'' Guillen said before the White Sox lost 6-4 to the Seattle Mariners. ''Maybe he ..."

Landing Alex Rios has pluses, minuses for White Sox

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August 11

Chicago Tribune

columnist Phil Rogers

"It's hard to get excited about a hand-me-down. Make no mistake about it, that's exactly what Alex Rios is to the White Sox, who acquired him on waivers Monday. Yet acquiring Rios looks like an excellent move by one of baseball's most resourceful front offices. Toronto sources indicate Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi let the 28-year-old outfielder go, even if all he accomplishes with the move is to free up roughly $62 million remaining on his contract. Given the talk around Chicago, the Rios waiver claim Friday has confused Sox fans more than excited them. It doesn't help that the club hasn't been able to say anything while the process plays out. Here's a primer that may make it easier to ..."

White Sox acquire Alex Rios on waiver claim

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August 10

Chicago Tribune

"In a shocking transaction Monday, the White Sox acquired Toronto outfielder Alex Rios on waivers. Rios, 28, is guaranteed $59.7 million from 2010 through 2014. His acquisition has serious financial ramifications for the Sox, who have four high-profile free agents after this season - namely right fielder Jermaine Dye and designated hitter Jim Thome. Rios is batting .264 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs. Rios is expected to join the Sox on Tuesday in Seattle. ESPN.com first reported Friday night that Rios has been claimed by an unamed team but said the Sox were the team "most likely" to put the claim on him."

White Sox downplay rumored waiver bids

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August 10

Chicago Tribune

"General manager Ken Williams confirmed White Sox activity in the waiver process without answering directly whether he placed a claim on pricey Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios. "I'm not confirming or denying any interest or any claims or anything," Williams said Saturday. "But if these things get out on a daily basis, boy, it's going to be a heck of an August around here in terms of how many players you claim and how many you don't claim. It will make your head spin if you follow each report. "A lot of players get claimed every day. Why is this a big deal?" Because Rios is guaranteed nearly $60 million from 2010 to 2014. An ESPN.com report said a team placed a claim on Rios, and that the ..."

Ricciardi won't comment on Rios report

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August 8

MLB.com

"Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi downplayed an online report that surfaced on Friday, indicating that right fielder Alex Rios has been claimed off waivers by an unidentified team. That does not necessarily mean Toronto isn't currently weighing its options with the outfielder. "It's the time of year where everybody gets put through waivers on every team," Ricciardi said. "For us to comment on that, I don't think is a good thing. We're not going to comment on the waiver wire. It's unfortunate that someone puts anything out there that's supposed to be confidential. "In this case, all I'll tell you is everybody gets put through waivers. It's a normal process. Every team does it, but ..."

White Sox reportedly have interest in Alex Rios

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August 8

Chicago Tribune

"The White Sox were willing to take on the remaining $56 million on Jake Peavy's contract he signed with the Padres, and a report Friday night suggests they might be willing to take a bigger financial obligation with Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios. According to ESPN.com, citing major league sources, the Sox were the team most likely to have put in a waiver claim on Rios. Rios is guaranteed $59.7 million from 2010 through 2014. Teams can put in waiver claims simply to block another team (think the Tigers) from trying to acquire a player but run a financial risk. The Blue Jays, who are trying to shed payroll, have three options: --They can award Rios to the team that claims him without any ..."

Rios waiver report riles up Jays GM

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August 8

Toronto Star

"Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi wouldn't comment on reports that another team is trying to claim Alex Rios off waivers, but said that "nothing" is happening with the Jays' right fielder. ESPN.com reported yesterday that an unnamed team had placed a claim on Rios, forcing the Jays to either remove him from their waiver list, work out a trade with that team, or let him go for nothing. Last year, Rios signed a seven-year contract worth nearly $70 million (U.S.), but his production this season hasn't lived up to his huge salary. Through 105 games, he was hitting .261 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs. "That's an incredible opportunity for the Blue Jays to get out from underneath that ..."

Jays' Rios apologizes for off-field incident

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June 6

MLB.com

"For Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios, the frustration continued beyond the ballpark after a disheartening loss to the Angels on Thursday. Rios made a public apology on Friday, after an unfortunate incident Thursday night was made public. As Rios was leaving a fundraising gala for the Jays Care Foundation, he got into a brief shouting match with a fan who critcized Rios for his recent performance on the field. The incident was captured on video and posted on YouTube, and then circulated on various Web sites. Rios issued an apology before Friday night's game against the Royals. "I just want to apologize for the situation that happened yesterday at the gala," Rios said. "I just want to ..."

Rios ends futility streak

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June 6

Toronto Sun

"Alex Rios set a club record by striking out in seven consecutive at-bats when he whiffed in his final two plate appearances Wednesday and then had his horrific five- strikeout game Thursday. It marked the most consecutive strikeouts in the big leagues since Emil Brown of the Oakland A's struck out eight consecutive times June 12-14, 2008. "Oh man, striking out five times wasn't good," Rios said prior to last night's game. "But this is another day and I hope to be able to touch the ball today." As for making an adjustment against the likes of the Royals' Zack Greinke, Rios said he's not making any. "I don't think I have to change anything," he said. "(Thursday), I just wasn't able to ..."

Rios `a mess'

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May 10

Toronto Star

"Jays manager Cito Gaston conceded yesterday that No.3 hitter Alex Rios' batting mechanics "are a mess." "He's staying back on his back half, he's not getting around in time and it's pitch selection, too ... all the things we're talking to him about," Gaston said."

For Rios, that's more like it

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May 4

Globe and Mail

"In Cito Gaston's perfect world, his starting pitchers would all pitch into the seventh inning and Alex Rios would emerge from his season-long hitting funk. The Toronto Blue Jays manager was granted his first wish when Scott Richmond went seven strong innings and improved his record to 4-0 as the Blue Jays nipped the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 before 20,418 at the Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon. Gaston's second wish was also forthcoming as Rios, Toronto's perplexing right fielder whose lack of punch this season has been pronounced, broke loose with a home run and a double in four at-bats. The timely pitching and hitting helped the American League East division leaders complete their first sweep ..."

Let Rios work it out on his own

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June 10

Globe and Mail

columnist Jeff Blair

"The easy thing to assume is that Alex Rios is chafing under the weight of his new seven-year, $69.83-million (all currency U.S.) contract, because it's one of those explanations that goes down well over a pint or six or on the call-in shows. It's an oversimplistic assessment that gives the modern-day athlete too much credit for sensitivity, a reflection of the ?well, that's how I might act,? thinking that is the basis of 90 per cent of what passes for critical analysis: sound-bite psychology. Newsflash: Rios didn't live on the streets before his contract. His day-to-day existence hasn't changed much because of the money (in fact, Rios seems more comfortable in his skin this year ..."

Rios has plenty of questions but too few answers

May 20

Toronto Star

"Alex Rios stood in front of his locker, legs wide, bat raised above his head. Teammate Marco Scutaro stood a few feet distant, offering his thoughts in Spanish. Rios pointed at his legs, his stance, indicated his arms, dropped his elbow a bit. Scutaro shrugged and didn't say much. The impromptu hitting consultation lasted only a few seconds. Rios didn't look satisfied with the results. After a painfully slow start to the year, the two-time all-star is looking for help wherever he can. Asked later what he thinks is causing his early season struggles, Rios seemed bewildered. "I have no clue," Rios said."