Jan. 12--The Chicago White Sox avoided one salary arbitration case Monday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.4 million contract with outfielder Dayan Viciedo.
Viciedo, 25, set career highs in 2014 with 65 runs, 46 extra base hits and 32 walks in addition to hitting 21 home runs. But he batted only .231, and his playing time in 2015 remains questionable with the free agent signing of Melky Cabrera.
Newly-acquired pitcher Jeff Samardzija looms as the most interesting case among the Sox's five remaining arbitration eligible players. Samardzija, who can become a free agent after the 2015 season, was only 7-13 with the Cubs and Oakland Athletics in 2014.
But Samardzija threw a career high 219 2/3 innings, marking the second consecutive season he threw at least 200 innings. Samardzija also made 33 starts for the second consecutive season.
Samardzija earned $5.345 million in 2014 but could receive a raise of more than $4 million.
The Sox's other arbitration eligible players are pitchers Javy Guerra, Nate Jones and Hector Noesi and catcher Tyler Flowers.
