Top 5 Landing Spots for Alex Rios

While the Kansas City Royals are all abuzz with World Series dreams, the looming free agency of right fielder Norichika Aoki could make the Royals one of the frontrunners to sign Alex Rios if Aoki commands more than expected on the open market.

The Cincinnati Reds will almost certainly buy out the remaining year of left fielder Ryan Ludwick's contract for nearly million, rather than pay the 36-year-old a total of million for 2015. This would open up a spot for Rios with the Reds if the price is right

The Detroit Tigers may pass on signing free-agent right fielder Torii Hunter to another contract, now that Hunter is approaching age 40. Bidding for the services of a younger and more athletic right fielder like Rios would make a lot of sense, especially since Rios can play center field, too.

The Toronto Blue Jays might not be willing to pay the price to retain free agent Melky Cabrera as their left fielder or Colby Rasmus as a platoon center fielder, which could pave the way for the return of Alex Rios to the Blue Jays, where he played for the first five-plus years of his career.

If the Baltimore Orioles decide not to pick up the more than million option for right fielder Nick Markakis -- and find that the free-agent sweepstakes for Nelson Cruz will protract too far into the offseason at too high of a price -- the AL East division winners just might pull an early trigger to snatch Alex Rios from free agency to cover themselves should they lose out on Markakis or Cruz (or both).