Viciedo Finest Redemption

My penance for spending quality time with my fiancee instead of monitoring the computer last week? This news completely escaped me until today, when I read it in the newspaper. This probably also explains the Viciedo card comments on Twitter directed towards me.

I guess I was more focused on the poor play of the team, than card announcements. This, coupled with the fact that Viciedo was sent down last week, makes a great juxtaposition.

Last week, Topps announced the player redeemable for the 2010 Topps Finest Baseball Rookie Redemption #8 is Chicago White Sox Pitcher third baseman Dayan Viciedo.

Throughout the 2010 Major League Baseball season, Topps will announce the subjects for the 10-card Rookie Redemption set. Each Master Box of Topps Finest includes one Rookie Redemption. In addition, collectors can also find redemptions for Blue Refractors (#’d to 199) and Gold Refractors (#’d to 50) versions.

I still haven't been able to afford any of the Beckham redemptions from last year. It will be interesting to see if the Viciedo cards are more affordable, since the hype machine isn't as strong with Dayan as it was with Gordon Beckham.

Could Third Be Dayan Viciedo's?

Now that Joe Crede has signed an incentive laden contract with the Minnesota Twins, could this mean Josh Fields demotion? It certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility. While you are scrambling to connect the dots, let me explain.

Joe Crede will potentially be playing with a division rival. If his back holds up, he will be playing many games with a division rival. Frankly, I don't see that bad back playing too many games on that artificial surface, but the opportunity is there.

Josh Fields has been playing under Crede for the better part of two years. This would have given Crede an advantage to study the work ethics and fielding habits of Josh Fields on a level that no game tape could possibly provide. If Josh hasn't changed his fielding drastically, the Twins could exploit those habits whenever they played the Sox. Josh has been working extra hard this offseason and is said to be a completely different player.

On the other hand, Dayan Viciedo has not been seen by too many organizations yet. If he is half as good as the White Sox claim, Dayan should have no trouble fitting in on the major league level. Does that mean that Dayan will get the nod over Fields? No, but it is a factor to think about during Spring Training. I wouldn't be surprised if that has already been discussed internally with the White Sox. Dayan could have a greater impact on the Sox than Alexei Ramirez did in 2008.

Whatever happens, I wish Joe Crede the best of luck in Minnesota. That is all the luck when he's not playing the White Sox. Another piece of the World Series team is gone.

Sox Agree To Terms With Three

I just got this bit of info in my mailbox from the White Sox wire.

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a four-year, $10-million contract with free agent third baseman Dayan Viciedo (DYE-on VEE-see-ay-doh) and also have agreed to one-year deals with infielder Wilson Betemit ($1.3 million) and outfielder DeWayne Wise ($550,000), avoiding arbitration with both players.

Under 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.

Viciedo, 19, played three seasons with Villa Clara in the Cuban League, batting .296 (237-801) with 32 home runs and 123 RBI in 233 games. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder compiled a .500-plus slugging percentage in two of his three seasons playing in Serie Nacional, Cuba’s top-level league.

Betemit, 27, played in 87 games with the Yankees in 2008, hitting .265 (50-189) with six home runs and 25 RBI. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound switch-hitter batted .274 (40-146) with four homers and 21 RBI from the left side of the plate. He was acquired from the Yankees on November 13 as part of a five-player deal.

Wise, 30, batted .248 (32-129) with six home runs and 18 RBI in 57 games last season, his first with the White Sox after signing as a minor-league free agent on March 5. He also hit .319 (61-191) with nine homers and 23 RBI in 55 games at Class AAA Charlotte.

I expected something with their new Cuban third base hopeful, Viciedo, and new acquisition Betemit. I am happy about the Sox agreeing to terms with DeWayne Wise. He did great as a fourth outfielder last year.