What Dayan Viciedo Would Bring to the San Francisco Giants
By Gary Oversen
The San Francisco Giants offseason has often felt like a lukewarm bath. They have plugged the glaring holes at 3B and LF that were left after the departures of fan favorites Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse. But while Casey McGehee and Nori Aoki should prove to be very good signings, the team is still left looking for more power.
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Brandon Belt playing every day will definitely help. Maybe Brandon Crawford will find even more consistency with another year under his belt. But what if the Giants were able to bring in Cody Ross-type numbers, at half the cost?
Dayan Viciedo, who the Chicago White Sox have tried to trade all winter, has now been designated for assignment. The White Sox are now even more desperate to find a taker.
Viciedo was once one of the most sought after Cuban players on the market. He plays both left field and third base, so he provides insurance at both positions as well as a power bat off the bench. And he is still just 25 years old.
This could be the year when he starts to figure things out. If that happens, then they have a player who doesn’t hit free agency until 2018 and could start in either left or at third. With Angel Pagan‘s recent injury history, Aoki may have to slide over to center at some point. It’s always good to have options, especially since McGehee is only signed through next year.
His major downside is on the defensive side. He will normally require a defensive replacement late in games, but so did Morse. That is precisely why you employ a player like Gregor Blanco to pinch run, after the left fielder gets on in the eighth, and then to play left field the rest of the game.
Speaking of those comparable stats to Ross, Viciedo’s lifetime averages per 162 games are: 22 homers, 71 runs batted in, and a .254 average. Ross’s line is: 20 homers, 77 RBI, and a .263 average. Ross is making $8.5 million this year, while Viciedo had agreed to a one-year, $4.4 million deal with the White Sox earlier in January. If the team were to throw in an extra low-level prospect in the deal, they could probably get Chicago to send some extra cash back with Viciedo.
If the team were to make the deal, it could have a similar effect that Ross or Pat Burrell had since Viciedo wouldn’t likely start the season in the starting lineup. It would mean that someone who played a key role in October may not make the Opening Day roster, probably Matt Duffy or Travis Ishikawa. It could still be a low-risk, high-reward move that Brian Sabean usually would jump on.