Trade Target: Alex Rios

As you can imagine, a lot of people featured on this list will be outfielders because the only real upgrade area is right field. And that is the case today with Alex Rios being the focus. It's been brought up several times that the Pirates are last in the NL in OPS from right field so it is in need of an upgrade. Jose Tabata has looked good coming off rehab and basically replacing Travis Snider but can really improve the bench if someone else is playing everyday. That someone could be Rios.

Rios is off to another great season for the ChiSox and is pumping out production. His slash is .268/.325/.429 for an OPS of .754 and he has 11 HRs, and 37 RBIs. He's on pace to hit his career numbers of .278/.324/.444, an OPS of .768, and HR/RBI totals of 18 and 79. So, by the looks of things the guy can flat out hit, which is what the Pirates need. He is a stellar fielder as well so there are no worries on that end. And since I'm done with all the good things, there must be a lot of bad things to talk about. And you are right.

I didn't imagine Rios having so many red flags the way he is coveted on the trade market but he really does. First thing is his stats are really average. He hits but it doesn't blow me away by any means. Nate Schierholtz has a much better OPS at .867 and isn't considered the prize of the market in the outfield. Second issue I have is his contract. He makes over $12 million this year and over $13 million next season. That is not a price the Pirates will pay without help from the other club. And if the White Sox are gonna send money, better prospects will go their way when his price is already high. Last and most important problem is his stats with runners in scoring position. They are AWFUL. When RISP, he hits a woeful .167/.291/.212 for a whopping OPS of .503. The Pirates need someone who can drive in runs and Rios doesn't look like he'd help the cause. Granted that he hits .276/.327/.416 for an OPS of .743 in his career, which still isn't dazzling, but he hasn't shown any reason to believe that his woes will change anytime soon. These are some pretty big issues I did not expect to see from the "best outfielder on the market".

Overall, I am not a fan of bringing in Rios at all after reviewing this. His numbers aren't as superstar like as they should be, he has that huge contract and prospect price, and he can't hit with RISP, which is the Pirates biggest issue. I don't see any reason to bring him in at all at this point. You could say a move to the NL could help him but not that dramatically. He'd have to have a huge month of July to win me over but at this point I would be much more comfortable going for a cheaper and most likely better option in right field and let other teams bid for Rios. It's a smart plan and something the Pirates should stick to. So like yesterday, add Alex Rios to my "don't buy list" to go along with Bud Norris.

Tomorrow's trade deadline target will be OF Raul Ibanez.

Note: Jesse Crain who I profiled earlier this week has elbow discomfort and should land on the DL and miss the deadline due to injury so scratch him off of the wish list.