And to no one’s surprise, the Sox are preparing to sign Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo. The Sox suddenly have a potential solution, but also a lot of questions. To wit:

WHO’S ON THIRD?
Viciedo plays third, and by most accounts plays it decently, as well as left field. Viciedo is also described as being more of a power bat and not exactly the fastest of runners. Does this sound like anyone we all know? Maybe someone we’ve seen around the South Side a few times, heard so much, and know to be making less annually than the reported $2.875 million per year the Sox are giving their newest free agent? Does the low salary and huge potential suddenly make Josh Fields’ exit via trade a guarantee?

Or is Sox brass looking at Viciedo as a potential left fielder, allowing Carlos Quentin to move back to right (his natural position) and signaling the end of the Jermaine Dye era? Or, as the Trib hints, is Viciedo the right fielder of the future and destined to wait out the Thome-to-Dye-as-DH transition in Charlotte?

ARE WE ABOUT TO WITNESS ALEXEI PART II?
Even without seeing even a single frame of Viciedo, we can probably safely assume not. Not that Viciedo will be a bust, or even just so-so, but there is a reason so much has been made of the Cuban Missile’s first season in the majors. The new guy may very well be great, but if we’re going to be irresponsible with our projections we might as well compare him to Albert Pujols or Alex Rodriguez. Come on people, let’s have some expectations here.

IS THIS THE SOX’ WAY OF SAVING MONEY IN THIS WINTRY ECONOMIC CLIMATE?
It’s not impossible to say this is a cheaper alternative than signing some high-priced free agent, but in the case of the Sox that’s not a new economic policy at work. Here’s an exercise: name one time since 1996 where the Sox haven’t sought a cheaper option for anything in the open market. You can’t. Because they always seek the cheaper option in the open market.

Also, there’s no such thing as a wintry economic climate when you’re worth a quarter of a billion dollars and spending your millions on yet more millions. Let the C.C. rumors begin!