Rios yanked for lack of hustle

The trade alarm sounded when the Chicago White Sox pulled right fielder Alex Rios from the lineup after six innings in Friday night’s 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

But it was a false alarm.

Rios was yanked from the game because of a lack of hustle when grounding into a double play in the fifth inning, the Chicago Tribune reports.

"There are expectations, and we're not starting the second half that way," manager Robin Ventura told the newspaper. "It was simple. He'll be back in. But tonight, that's what happens when you don't run."

With the White Sox buried in the AL Central cellar and even further behind in the AL wild-card chase, they figure to sell ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. And Rios has been a popular name in rumors.

Rios, 32, is under contract for 2014, when he'll make $12.5 million and the club has a $13.5 million option on him for 2015. In 91 games, he is batting .270/.326/.431 with 11 homers, 42 RBI and 19 stolen bases.