Unable to make a trade, Sox release Viciedo

When the White Sox avoided salary arbitration with Dayan Viciedo on Jan. 12 and signed the outfielder to a one-year, $4.4 million contract, they were already exploring trade possibilities.

At that point on the calendar, the Sox already had a new left fielder, Melky Cabrera, a surprising free-agent addition that came with a high price tag ($42 million over three years).

After designating Viciedo for assignment one week ago, the White Sox released the enigmatic outfielder on Wednesday.

The Sox owe Viciedo one-sixth of his salary, roughly $733,000. Should Viciedo sign with another team, the White Sox won't receive any compensation.

The Sox were obviously unable to work out a trade for Viciedo over the last week, and any proposed deal likely would have required them to pay more than $733,00.

So Viciedo is gone, and Emilio Bonifacio is the team's reserve outfielder heading into spring training.

Viciedo had a .231/.281/.405 hitting line last year with 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 145 games. Over five seasons with the Sox, Viciedo batted .254 with 66 homers and 211 RBI in 483 games.

The White Sox on Wednesday also acquired right-handed pitcher Yency Almonte from the Angels as the player to be named later from the August trade that sent infielder Gordon Beckham to Los Angeles.

The Angels nontendered Beckham at the end of the season, and he returned to the Sox last week on a one-year, $2 million contract.

Almonte, 20, was a combined 2-6 with a 5.91 ERA last season in 11 starts with the Arizona Rookie League Angels and Class A Burlington.

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