Dayan Viciedo on the Athletics’ Radar?
According to a tweet this afternoon from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal the Oakland Athletics are in on free agent outfielder Dayan Viciedo.
Sources: #BlueJays, #Athletics among teams talking to Viciedo.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 27, 2015
I just don’t Know why.
The Athletics have a penchant for capable power hitters and platoon candidates. One problem though, Viciedo is not a capable anything, nor should he be a platoon candidate.
In the MLB Trade Rumors write up of this rumor, they mention Viciedo as having “outstanding numbers against lefties.”
That just isn’t true.
In 123 at-bats against lefties in 2012 Viciedo shined. He batted .350 with 9 home runs, a .293 ISO, and .437 wOBA. However those numbers were fueled by an extremely high BABIP of .347.
In 2013 he had 109 ABs vs. lefties: 3 HRs, .156 ISO, .308 wOBA, .291 BABIP.
In 140 ABs vs. lefties in 2014 Viciedo fared even worse: 5 HRs, .186 ISO, .290 wOBA, .245 BABIP.
His 2013 numbers are most likely the real Viciedo because a .291 BABIP is much more sustainable than .347, but not nearly as unlucky as his 2014 mark of .245.
Even the promise Viciedo has shown in the power department has been helped by the power-friendly home park he played in, U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The Cell was the 13 best park for home runs in baseball in 2014, according to ESPN’s park factors.
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The only constant in Viciedo’s game is his defense, or lack thereof rather. His -19 DRS and -19.4 UZR prove he cannot handle the outfield, nor first base as the MLBTR report suggests.
I understand general manager Billy Beane’s move to buy-low on a hitter such as Ike Davis. But Davis showed repeatable skills – even improvement in some areas – despite what was considered “low” production in 2014.
Viciedo does not fit the same mold and the only thing he has going for him is his raw power an age (26 by season’s start).
The Toronto Blue Jays would be doing Beane and the Athletics a serious favor by winning the bidding for Viciedo’s services.