The largest pure salary dump in Major League Baseball history was concluded Monday evening, when Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi informed two-time All-Star Alex Rios that his contract, with more than $60 million remaining, was being transferred to the Chicago White Sox.
For nothing.
Baseball has had its share of player sales, from Connie Mack's desperate purges of the Philadelphia Athletics in the early part of the 20th century to Boston's sale of Babe Ruth, and there have been extraordinary trades driven by money, from Oakland's trade of Vida Blue to the Twins' swap of
Johan Santana to the Mets. The
Texas Rangers moved a lot of salary in dealing
Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees after the 2003 season, but remember, they kicked in some $67 million and received a rising star,
Alfonso Soriano, for their troubles.
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Buster Olney
