The Chicago White Sox designated one of their outfielders for assignment last week and he was officially released on Wednesday. The team also acquired a starting pitcher from the Los Angeles Angels.
Dayan Viciedo was released today after Chicago failed to find a trade partner during the five-day window after they designated him for assignment. The 25-year-old outfielder cleared waivers and the White Sox were forced to eat $733,000 after they opted to not pick him back up. The team avoided arbitration with Viciedo earlier in the offseason and agreed on a one-year, $4.4 million deal.
Despite a promising 2012 campaign, during which he slashed .255/.300/.444 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs, Viciedo struggled over the past two seasons and 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. As a result, he was designated for assignment once the team signed infielder Gordon Beckham to a one-year deal.
The White Sox were in trade talks with the Seattle Mariners regarding Viciedo earlier in the offseason, but the discussions fell through. Chicago could have saved themselves the $733K if they had just non-tendered him a few months back.
Interestingly enough, in the same week the team signed Beckham, they also received the "player to be named" in the trade they executed with the Los Angeles Angels for Beckham during the 2014 season (back on August 21). On Wednesday the White Sox announced they acquired minor league right-hander Yency Almonte from the Angels, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
The 20-year-old has spent three seasons in the minors with the Angels and owns a 5-9 record with a 4.93 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 27 games (22 starts) between the team's rookie league and Class-A Burlington.
Here's what Baseball America has to say about the prospect:
"He has an athletic, projectable frame and fires low-90s fastballs that have reached as high as 94 mph. He has feel for spinning the ball and threw a three-quarters breaking ball for strikes during instructional league. He's working on a changeup but hasn't used it much yet. Almonte doesn't have much pitching experience and he comes with durability concerns, but he has become a favorite of some club officials among the newer players in the system."
