Just Danglin' On The Waiver Wire

Charlie Klein

Over the past few days there has been a flurry of activity on the waver wire throughout Major League Baseball. Due to the current state of the economy the ability of big market teams to add an underachieving and overpaid player is enhanced as small market teams continue to dump salary.

Today the Chicago White Sox claimed the underachieving and enigmatic Alex Rios off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for not having to pay the remainder of his exorbitant pay packet. This is an interesting move by J.P. Riccardi, Jays GM, considering he is a protege of the money baller himself Billie Bean. Rios, who has never had an off the charts season but seemed to have bags of potential. He started off brilliantly in 2006 but only finished with modest power numbers. Six years and sixty-four million dollars offered later, the Jays dealt the once considered five-tool player to the White Sox.

What's awfully puzzling about this move by Ken Williams, White Sox GM, is that the White Sox already have a solid, functional outfield. Yes, Carlos Quentin is not having the same year statistically that he did in 2008. And yes, Jermaine Dye is getting old and is not a great fielder (was he ever?). Sure, Podsednik is not a power threat but has been clutch late in games. Then there is always DeWayne Wise who saved Mark Buehrle's perfect game with one of the greatest catches I have ever seen.

Now Williams adds Rios, who is not having a great season (Franklin Gutierrez of the Seattle Mariners has the same number of homeruns and a higher batting average and costs 455,000 this year) and is not even a buy low sell high sort of move that makes all GM's look good. Yes, the White Sox did not give any of their prospects up in this deal, but I would have rather threw some prospects in than have to pay Rios' contract in full. But no matter, what's another big contract for the payroll eh? Williams is a respected GM in MLB but with more moves of this nature then his stock could fall. If Rios does well in a new ballpark with new fans in a pennant race, then the move will be worth it. I just do not see it happening.

This is a brilliant move by Riccardi. The man received to much flack for the manner in which he handled the Roy Halladay sweepstakes and deserves more credit for the job he is doing in Toronto. Dumping Rios' bloated contract helps them in the long run to re-sign Halladay and invest in players like Aaron Hill and Adam Lind. Riccardi just basically sold off one of his toxic assets for nothing.

The other Sox were rumoured to have claimed Christian Guzman off of waivers from the Washington Nationals yesterday in order to fix their weakness at shortstop. The Beantowners have not found a long term replacement for Nomar Garciaparra since the Fenway favourite was traded in 2004. Orlando Cabrera filled in well but was never meant to remain with the Sawx. Julio Lugo was a disaster and their farm system has been unable to provide a replacement in either Jed Lowrie or Nick Green. The addition of Guzman would be just another quick fix by Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. That does not mean it is a bad move, but it is what it is. Guzman could provide another bat in the lineup that hits for average and gets on base so that the Youka & Co. can drive him in. Guzman also offers a good glove in the midddle infield. Come on Theo, you know you wanna!

If the Nationals traded Guzman there would be a definite uproar by the local and fickle Nationals fans in the District of Columbia. The team has won an impossible eight games in a row and does not show any signs of slowing down. The Nationals' current streak is a franchise record for consecutive wins and has the fanbase abuzz with the pipe dream of being a competitive ball club. Trading Guzman, who the fans love for his intro music (How We Do, G-UNIT), would kill any good PR the Nationals have, and especially this season, lord only knows how much they need a positive atmosphere surrounding Nationals Park.

There will surely be more additions (and subtractions) made through the wire this season. It will be interesting to see what team sets itself up best for a late postseason run. As John Sterling loves to say, you can't predict baseball.