After a strong first half Alex Rios has been injured and ineffective in the second half and now T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that “it appears increasingly likely” the Rangers will decline his $14 million option for 2015.
Texas would have to buy him out for $1 million, which would send the 33-year-old outfielder into the open market following a season in which he’s managed just four homers and 23 walks in 131 games for a measly .709 OPS despite a solid .280 batting average.
Rios has topped an .800 OPS just once since 2008 and his defense is no longer good enough to offset mediocre production, making him a so-so starting corner outfielder.
