Outfielder Alex Rios finally found a trade destination. The Chicago White Sox have traded Rios and $1 million to the Texas Rangers for cash or a player to be named later, as first reported by CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes.
Rios was reportedly near the top of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ trade deadline wish list. After the July 31 deadline, the Pirates were too low on the waiver wire to claim Rios before the Rangers did.
Reports had the trade’s player to be named later as Leury Garcia, a speedy young shortstop with a strong arm from the right side of the infield. Garcia, 22, has been ranked as a C+ prospect and not one of the Rangers’ Top 20 farmhands. The Dominican native is 5-foot-7 with little power at the plate, hitting for a .723 OPS in Triple-A this season.
Rios’ offensive numbers this year of of .277/.328/.421 and a 102 wRC+ are lower than those of Jose Tabata, though Rios brings strong defense in right field and above-average baserunning to the Rangers. Texas’ starting right fielder Nelson Cruz was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for receiving performance-enhancing drugs from Biogenesis.
My guess is PTBNL will be Leury Garcia but they'd announce it at a later time when he doesn't have to clear waivers. #Rangers #WhiteSox
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 9, 2013