Surplus is good. It means you have more than one needs.
The White Sox have a surplus of outfield talent after signing Melky Cabrera to play left field.
The White Sox avoided an arbitration hearing with outfielder Dayan Viciedo, agreeing to a one-year, $4.4 million contract.
Viciedo, 25, batted .231 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI and a career-high
65 runs scored in 145 games with the Sox in 2014. He’s a career .254
hitter with 66 home runs and 211 RBI in 483 games.
Viciedo might not figure in the Sox’ plans for 2015. He certainly
doesn’t figure to have a starting role after the Sox signed free agent
Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal in December. Cabrera
will take over in left field, Avisail Garcia is in right and Adam
LaRoche and Jose Abreu will share designated-hitter duties.
The Sox have been exploring trade possibilities for the
right-handed-hitting Viciedo, who might have some value after hitting
20-plus homers three times in the last four seasons. He is young and hits for power which could bring back several top prospects in trade (including pitching). But it seems the Sox may be content on holding onto Vicideo as the 4th OF/DH in case of injury to another starter.
