The early word on trade waivers is that quite a few players are getting claimed, even some with large salaries.

Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios, who is guaranteed nearly $60 million over the next five years, was claimed last week, two baseball sources confirmed to CBSSports.com. One source said that the claiming team is the White Sox. While the Blue Jays could simply let the claim go through and offload Rios' contract, it's believed that they keep Rios if the White Sox don't offer them enough in return. The teams had 48 hours to make a deal, a time period that is believed to run through Monday.

Also claimed, according to sources, was Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada. The claiming team isn't known, but also isn't important, because the Astros have already pulled Tejada back and now can't trade him. Tejada is making $13 million this year, on the final year of his contract.

The Rays aren't believed to be the team that blocked Tejada, but sources said that Tampa Bay has been active in claiming any low-salary players, effectively blocking them from being traded to the Yankees or Red Sox.

Teams put most of their players through waivers at some point in August. If the player goes through unclaimed, he is eligible to be traded to any team. If a player is claimed by one or more teams, that player can only be dealt in the 48 hours after the claim is awarded (to the claiming team that is lowest in the standings).

When a player is claimed, the team that put him through waivers has three choices: pull back the claim (at which point the player can no longer be traded), trade him to the team making the claim, or simply allow him to go to the claiming team without getting a player in return.

According to baseball rules, the waiver process is secret, and teams and officials are not allowed to comment or even confirm claims.