Alex Rios Makes Mucho Dinero
I like the fact that Ken Williams is a mover and a shaker. But is there a reason he couldn’t have acquired an expensive CF before the season started?
Rios finally gives the Sox an everyday centerfielder that can field his position and hit. He does a little of everything. His numbers will likely go up at the Cell, but he is having a pretty lousy year. And he makes a ton of cash:
- 7 years/$69.835M (2008-14), plus 2015 club option
- signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, re-working 2008 deal signed 2/5/08 ($3.5M signing bonus remains, 2008 salary reduced from $1.335M to $0.735M)
- 08:$0.735M, 09:$5.9M, 10:$9.7M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M, 13:$12.5M, 14:$12.5M, 15:$13.5M club option ($1M buyout)
- full no-trade clause, 2009-10
- may block trades to 6 clubs from 2011 to end of deal
- signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, re-working 2008 deal signed 2/5/08 ($3.5M signing bonus remains, 2008 salary reduced from $1.335M to $0.735M)
He certainly improves the roster. But will his huge contract prevent the Sox from getting a true power hitter when Dye, Konerko and Thome all leave at some point? Could Williams have done better for that kind of money?
One thing I think is for sure: Either Jake Peavy and Alex Rios make Williams a genius, or they will be his undoing. Sox fans have to like the Rios move now. Later? We’ll see.
