The Texas Rangers are likely to part ways with 33-year-old outfielder Alex Rios this off-season as the team will not pick up his $13.5 million option for the 2015 season, according to T.R Sullivan of MLB.com.
Instead, the Rangers are expected to pay Rios' $1 million buyout and allow him to hit costless agency this off-season.
Rios will not play again this season as he has been dealing with a severely bruised right thumb injury for most of the second half of the regular season. His thumb has also been at risk for infection which makes matters worse for Rios. He has been traveling with the club this week while trying to see if his thumb injury will improve enough for him to be a productive part of the Rangers. However, that has not happened for Rios and he will sit out the rest of the season.
The right-handed hitting outfielder is in the final year of his 7-year, $68.84 million contract. Rios has not played since September 4 and he will finish the season with a .280/.311/.398 slash line to go along with four home runs, 54 RBI and 17 stolen bases. The Rangers plan to move outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from left field to right field next season and use the money that they saved by declining Rios' 2015 option to help bolster their pitching staff.
Heading into Monday, the Rangers own a 62-93 record and are expected to receive a top five draft pick in next summer's MLB Draft.