On Wednesday the Chicago White Sox signed infielder Gordon Beckham to a one-year, $2 million deal and designated outfielder Dayan Viciedo for assignment. Is Viciedo going to be traded since the team just agreed to a one-year, $4.4 million deal with the Cuban slugger?
Viciedo was the subject of trade talks earlier in the offseason, especially after the White Sox signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal. The addition of Cabrera was a telling sign that the team might be looking to deal Viciedo, but now it couldn't be any more obvious after he was designated for assignment earlier today.
It's hard to believe Chicago would dump Viciedo in the minors and keep him there while they owe him $4.4 million, so it's possible they have a trade in place to send the outfielder packing before spring training. The White Sox were in talks with the Seattle Mariners in the offseason about such a deal, but the discussions stalled and were never revisited. Since then, the Mariners added outfielders Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano, so it doesn't look like that's a destination for Viciedo any longer.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn spoke to reporters earlier today after the team made the move. His comments foreshadowed Chicago trading him.
"It got to a point where Dayan didn't fit in in any meaningful way," said Hahn, adding that he "will flush out interest" in Viciedo and "find him a better home," via Daryl Van Schouwn of the Chicago Sun Times.
"It won't surprise us if he has a very successful career elsewhere," he said.
Viciedo showed great promise during his first full MLB season in 2012 when he slashed .255/.300/.444 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs as a 23-year-old. However, since then he's batted just .248/.293/.416 with 35 home runs and 114 RBIs in 269 games on top of being a liability on the defensive side of the ball. Hahn noted during the MLB Winter Meetings that the team needed to figure out what they were going to do with Viciedo, whether it be keeping him in left field, using him in a different way, or trading him for a different type of player.
It seems clear what he's decided to do at this point, and it looks like Viciedo will have a new team before spring training.
On the other hand, Hahn is excited about the arrival of Beckham, who reunites with the White Sox after being traded to the Los Angeles Angels last season.
"Adding Gordon improves the depth and flexibility of our roster," Hahn said, via the Chicago Tribune. "We are thrilled to have him back. Like Emilio Bonifacio, Gordon brings the ability to play solid defense at multiple positions or play on an everyday basis should the need arise. This also gives Robin [Ventura] the ability to play matchups more effectively when setting the lineup."
