With the recent announcement of the White Sox officially signing 19-year-old Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo to a four-year, $10 million contract, the third baseman was asked if he had heard that manager Ozzie Guillen was already sending him a warning during the winter meetings that he needed to get in shape if he wanted any chance to overthrow Josh Fields this spring.
Viciedo not only heard it but has already started doing what he can to force the hand of his new team. "I did hear Ozzie's commentary," Viciedo said through interpreter Lou Hernandez. "And I do think I have some work to do before I get to spring training. I've just started a program that will get me in shape for spring training. I look forward to the hard work, and I don't have any doubts I can get there."
At 6-foot-1, Viciedo did admit that his weight is about 246 pounds, 16 pounds heavier than the playing weight he feels most comfortable with.
If Guillen's words weren't motivation enough, he also knows that Fields is being penciled in as the starter at third right now, while Viciedo as basically an unknown contender at this point.
"It certainly motivates me," Viciedo said of Fields having the leg up. "It motivates me to give the best of what I have. It motivates me to go to spring training and give all I have."
Under the terms of his deal, Viciedo will receive a $4 million signing bonus and be paid $1 million in 2009, $1.25 million in 2010-11 and $2.5 million in 2012.
The Sox were one of several teams he was considering, but Viciedo admitted that the South Siders had a better recruiting ploy -- specifically fellow Cubans Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez was actually teammates with Viciedo on the Cuban National Team, so he was very familiar with what the young slugger brought to the table.
"They were very influential," Viciedo said. "(Contreras and Ramirez) spoke with me and told me about playing with the White Sox and how they can help me, and obviously how I can help them."
Viciedo played three seasons with Villa Clara in the Cuban League, batting .296 with 32 home runs and 123 RBIs in 233 games. He also compiled a .500-plus slugging percentage in two of his three seasons playing in Serie Nacional, Cuba's top-level league. His best position is third base, but he can also play in the outfield.
