Late Innings

Update: I’ve gotten an email, stating that he’s “only 19 years old", in given the team’s current options at third, I honestly see him starting at the hot corner as soon as the White Sox breaks camp in April.

When White Sox GM Ken Williams is in the news, it’s usually for something stupid that he did recently. The main reason why he’s being vilified in the news? Simple. He dealt a unique hitter who gets on base in Nick Swisher for pennies on the dime (the ten cent piece of course being Gio Gonzalez, now in Oakland.) Any ways that’s done, in the books, and of course he’ll now make some quiet moves which do not garner to draw any media attention. The main idea that’s going under the rug is the team’s signing of Cuban third-base prospect Dayan Viciedo for a major league deal for four years worth 11MM.

The Cuban “Babe Ruth” averaged 36 HR over the last four seasons. Yikes. (daylife.com)

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, Vicideo is the player that Williams targeted for the offseason. He’s a tremendous third base talent who will most likely be given the third base job on Opening Day. I know that’s a bold claim to say, however Alexi Ramirez made the Opening Day roster when he was expected to be in the minors after he signed his four year deal last winter. And of course all Ramirez did was finish second in Rookie of the Year voting to some guy named Evan Longoria, slugging 21 home runs in the process.

When Williams inked Ramirez to his four year, 4.75MM contract, I honestly expected him to be in the minors for a year. However he had a stellar spring, and had me change my mind, where my expectations for him suddenly rose. Ramirez hit 28 HR the year before in Cuba, and those translated well in the American League in 2008.

So where should we project Viciedo? Well let’s start here. He’ll be the team’s opening day third baseman. Joe Crede is leaving as a free agent, and Josh Fields struck out his way into Ozzie Guillen’s dog house. I’ve personally learned to never underestimate Cuban talent, especially when Baltimore and the Cuban national team played many years ago. Viciedo is incredible talent, and many people are lauding Williams for this move. So in summary, Williams stole Carlos Quinten from the Diamondbacks (an oft-injured fourth outfielder so they thought), grabbed the “Cuban Missile” in Ramirez, and now padded his resume with Viciedo. 11MM is a bargain over four years, and I’m projecting a .305/31/105 season from him at the least. I’m not joking or going out on any limbs here. People won’t know this guy in April, yet in July will be talking about him all the time. And in the end, I’ll be right with this projection, just take my word on this one. David Price and Matt Wieters suddenly have some competition for the Rookie of the Year in 2009…