It’s not exactly the Blue Jays trade talk that everyone wanted to hear about, but it’s certainly some big news from Toronto. The Blue Jays payroll is out of control, and the fact that management gave up on this team in May should tell you how shockingly pathetic the only team North of the border actually is. New trickled down that an undisclosed team has submitted a waiver claim for Alexander Rios, one of the Jays’ biggest names…and biggest contracts.

Rios signed a huge $69.8 million contract for 7-years in April 2008, and now some team is apparently willing to take him off their hands. Yep, Rios, who averages .261 and has an OPS of .728 with 12 dingers and just 58 RBI’s is making some of the biggest money that outfielders can make. For the cost conscious Blue Jay, shedding the dead weight of Alex Rios in order to retain Doc Halladay and sign on some cheaper, younger prospects certainly seems inviting.

The Blue Jays can retain Rios from waivers, allow the team that claimed him to just take him and his contract…or they could work out a trade. The latter would certainly be the best option, but Toronto first has to find out who claimed Rios, and then scan that roster for options. They have until next Tuesday to mull over their options, but no matter what, the Jays have to get rid of that crippling Alex Rios contract.

For a team like Toronto which always enters the baseball betting season with high hopes, financial relief has come out of nowhere. It’s perhaps the only good sign they’ve had all season, given the debacle that’s been the Halladay trade attempt, or their season overall. The Jays are 14.5 games out of first place in the AL East, which is being dominated by the New York Yankees.

This information is provided in partnership with BetUs Sportsbook

More ...