The removal of Alex Rios lightens the financial load in Toronto, but will it be enough to save a sinking ship?

Nothing is ever normal when the Blue Jays visit New York.

This is where, back in August of 2004, John Gibbons replaced the clearly in over his head Carlos Tosca as manager. And on Monday, a mere 30 minutes before game time, general manager J.P. Ricciardi stepped to the mic in the Yankees opulent (what else is new?) media conference room to inform all in attendance that the Chicago White Sox had claimed right fielder Alex Rios on waivers and he was no longer a member of the Blue Jays.

What did the Blue Jays receive in return for the two-time all-star? A player from the White Sox current roster? A prospect? No, and no.

This was a good, old-fashioned salary dump by a team that clearly has some financial issues. By letting Rios relocate to the south side of Chicago, the Jays are now out from under $58.7 million over the next five years. That's not chump change. Ricciardi can put whatever spin he wants on this, but the fact remains that he put his team in this situation and now he's trying to undo the mess. It's not dissimilar to the mess he inherited from Gord Ash when he took over as the top baseball dog in Toronto back in November of 2001. His first order of business was to pare down a bloated payroll which was overwhelmed by the $57.8 million that Carlos Delgado had left on his deal through 2004. So the likes of Billy Koch, Alex Gonzalez, Cesar Izturis, Paul Quantrill and Brad Fullmer were sent on their way for nothing of any substance, except $13.5 million removed from the books.

Now, with his own tenure likely ending following this season, Ricciardi will be leaving the team in a like situation that he created with the signing B.J. Ryan and the over-valued deals that he handed out to Rios and Vernon Wells.

The Wells contract extension, signed in December of 2006, was grossly back-loaded to free up money between 2008-10 (ostensibly to bring in re-enforcements for a playoff run). Under the terms of Wells' deal, fans will see the under-achieving centre fielder make the majority of the money from 2011-14 with the Jays on the hook for a whopping $86 million over the final four years of the seven-year deal. To think Ricciardi complained for all to hear that the Delgado deal was an albatross. I wonder what the next GM will say about the Wells' deal?

So the Rios era is now over on Toronto; one that began in 2004 with such promise. Drafted 19th overall in 1999 June draft it took a while for Rios to get to the majors. When he finally did arrive in Toronto it took a while for his power stroke to develop, which confounded many due to his 6'5 frame. He hit just one homerun in 2004 and 10 the following year, but it all seemed to click in 2006 when he made his first all-star appearance and was a finalist in the Home Run Derby. He went on to set career-highs with 24 homeruns and 85 RBI in 2007, but the power dropped off last season with just 15 homeruns.

In 2009, Rios' final season in Toronto, turned out to be a study in frustration for the fans and the player himself. A myriad of mental mistakes - throwing to the wrong base, not knowing how many were out and failing to run out ground balls - were trumped by an ill-advised cussing out of fans leaving a Blue Jays charity event which, in the age of YouTube, was recorded for all to witness. The inexcusable act greased the skids for his departure out of Toronto. Not a home game went by that a routine out by Rios was greeted by a smattering of boos by the ticket buyers.

So where does this leave the Blue Jays? With Rios and Scott Rolen sent on their way, the Blue Jays defence, which was one of the best in the game just two weeks ago, now sees Wells flanked in the outfield by misplaced infielders in Joe Inglett and Jose Bautista. Third baseman Rolen's replacement, Edwin Encarnacion, is starting to make us hold our collective breaths every time a ball is hit his way. As a team, the Jays have made 10 errors over their last 10 games after making just 35 in their first 101 games of the season. This not the best defence to put on the field with so many young arms dominating the rotation. Roy Halladay may be able to block errors out, the youngsters not so much.

But from a franchise standpoint, these are dangerous times. Ricciardi can say that the team now has more financial flexibility, but what free agent of any substance is going to sign in Toronto? What must Halladay think of all this? Why would he even consider re-upping with the Jays with them now giving away everyday players for nothing? And what general manager with any track record is going to want to inherit this mess? The club will be forced, yet again, to bring in a first-timer -- and fans have seen how that has played out over the last eight seasons.

In the end, somewhere Rios is smiling. What is unsure is whether or not he realizes just how lucky he is to be out.