Alex Rios expects to remain a member of the Toronto Blue Jays despite reports that an unidentified team has put in a waiver claim for him.
The right-fielder had little to say beyond that on the matter when asked for his reaction prior to Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.
"I don't know," he said. "I've heard that most of the players go through waivers after the deadline is over. I guess it's a normal process.
"I guess I can't do anything if I get traded, and I'm going to have to go to wherever I get traded to. But that at this point I'm thinking that I'm staying here. That's the way I have to think about it."
It's a usual procedure once the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline passes for teams to try to clear as many of their players as possible through waivers in case trade opportunities arise. Its also a way for teams to determine if there is interest in their players and to determine if there is a chance for a trade later.
If a claim has been put in for Rios, the Blue Jays could try to work out a trade with that team, or they can let him go to that team who would accept all that is left of his contract, or they can pull the player off waivers and keep him.
Rios is making US$5.9-million this season, and will earn $9.7 million in 2010, $12 million in 2011, $12 million in 2012, $12.5 million in 2013, and $12.5 million in 2014. There is a club option of $13.5 million for 2015, with a $1 million buyout.
Rios said no one from the Blue Jays has talked to him about the reports. But he has been mentioned in trade rumours before.
"Sometimes it gets old at some point but its baseball and, there's nothing you can do about it," Rios said. "You just have to not listen to them and go ahead keep going with what you're doing."
On Friday, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said little about the reports.
"We're not going to comment on the waiver wires," he said. "It's unfortunate that anybody puts anything out there because it's supposed to be confidential. But in this case all I'll tell you is that everybody gets put through waivers. It's a normal process, every team does it. But were not going to comment who was claimed or who wasn't claimed."