TORONTO -

Toronto Blue Jays right-fielder Alex Rios might soon be on the move after he was reportedly the subject of a waiver claim by an unidentified team.

Rios, struggling through a so-so season low-lighted by an online video capturing him cursing at a heckler, is in the first year of his US$64.6-million, six-year contract.

Despite all that, insiders have said a small handful of teams have maintained an interest in the gifted 28-year-old, who has yet to leverage all his talents over a full season.

General manager J.P. Ricciardi had little to say about the ESPN.com report Friday, but many players are routinely placed on revocable waivers at this time of year to gauge the interest of potential trade partners in the off-season.

The Blue Jays now have three options: they can try to work out a trade with the other team; they can simply let him go for nothing; or they can pull Rios off waivers and keep him.

"We're not going to comment on the waiver wires," Ricciardi told reporters. "It's unfortunate that anybody puts anything out there because it's supposed to be confidential.

"But in this case all I'll tell you is that everybody gets put through waivers. It's a normal process, every team does it. But we're not going to comment who was claimed or who wasn't claimed."

During the all-star break, some insiders suggested the San Francisco Giants -- who turned down a Blue Jays offer of Rios for Tim Lincecum two winters ago-- and the Chicago White Sox might have interest in the outfielder.

The thinking is that Rios' defensive skills are being wasted in right and that his offensive production and salary are better justified in centre field. The Blue Jays already have Vernon Wells locked in at centre.

Rios and Wells, who has five years remaining on his US$126-million, seven-year contract, are the only players committed to the Blue Jays through 2014. Rios also has an option for 2015, and moving him would create some financial flexibility for next season and beyond.

The Blue Jays currently have about $61 million committed to six players in 2010 after trading Scott Rolen last month and releasing B.J. Ryan.

Freeing up more money could potentially help the team restock the roster with players that might help convince ace Roy Halladay to re-sign once his contract expires after next season.

The Blue Jays put Halladay on the trade block in July but didn't end up finding the right deal for him.