CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have reached a tentative agreement with young Cuban star Dayan Viciedo.
The 19-year-old infielder/outfielder must pass a physical for the contract to be finalized, according to the player's agent, Jaime Torres.
"He has agreed to a deal and is flying to Chicago," Torres said Friday.
The contract was reported earlier by the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune.
The White Sox have been successful in signing Cuban players. Last offseason they landed infielder Alexei Ramirez, who eventually became their starting second baseman and batted .290 with 21 homers and 77 RBI. He finished runner-up in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting as Chicago won the AL Central.
Jose Contreras, the second-half ace of the 2005 team that went on to win the World Series, is recovering from a ruptured Achilles' tendon. He is 50-43 in parts of five seasons with the White Sox. Orlando Hernandez also was on the 2005 championship team.
"Alexei's performance with the White Sox -- he was given a great opportunity -- did open Dayan's eyes," Torres said. "And with Jose, that did play a role. ... But that's not the primary reason."
What really hooked Viciedo was being told he would get a chance to play his preferred position of third base, Torres said, adding that his client also liked the package that was put together with the White Sox.
Viciedo had 36 homers and 162 RBI with a .287 average over four years in Cuba's top league while playing 327 games.
The White Sox are not expected to re-sign third baseman Joe Crede, and Josh Fields is one of the candidates at that position after spending most of last season in the minors.
"Personally, I think he can," Torres said, when asked if Viciedo could go right to the majors. "I think I know the Cuban players and their talent."
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