Yankees Editorial: Should The Yankees Pursue Dayan Viciedo?

The White Sox had been trying to get rid of Dayan Viciedo all off-season long. They finally did just that. After re-signing Gordon Beckham, who had been traded by the same club last season, the Sox finally dumped Viciedo after DFA’ing him. Now the  soon to be 26 year old is available as a free agent. Should the Yankees take a flier?

Considering the Yankees don’t really have enough room for him on the active roster as of now, if he’d take a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training there is no reason not to bring him in. Viciedo will just turn 26 in March and just getting into his prime.

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Power in general is so scarce in the game today. Viciedo had 21 homers last season. That would have placed him third on the Yankees. Two behind Mark Teixeira and one behind Brian McCann.

Viciedo has also had some success against left-handed pitching in his career. He has a .291 average with an .837 OPS. Pretty good. Here’s a thought. What if Alex Rodriguez can’t play? Rodriguez was due to see a good amount of his time potentially as a DH vs left-handed pitching. Those at-bats can go to Viciedo instead were he to make the roster.

It also gives the Yankees some more outfield depth. Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran haven’t exactly been the picture of health throughout their career. Chris Young right now is the backup. Other than that there’s Ramon Flores, Tyler Austin and Mason Williams on the 40-man roster. None of those guys have every played in the major leagues. Viciedo can also play a little first base which could help as well.

Now Viciedo isn’t exactly Ozzie Smith with the glove. Per Baseball Refrence, he’s had a negative defensive WAR every year, with his worst year last year with a -2.4. If he ever played outfield, he’d have to be subbed out for in close games by Young or whoever he was giving a day off to.

Brian Cashman likes to tweak around the edges. He always has. Viciedo is still young and has pop in the bat. The Yankees are looking to get younger, and this wouldn’t that process.

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