While the White Sox may not be the frontrunner to sign Yoenis Cespedes, it's not for a lack of effort from fellow Cuban Dayan Viciedo.
The 22-year-old Viciedo, speaking through translator Jackson Miranda, told members of the media in a conference call Tuesday he contacted Cespedes and 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Soler to pitch the White Sox organization to them.
"I have reached out to both of their camps, Soler and Cespedes and put in a good word," Viciedo said. He "told them how great the organization is and how much of a great fit they would be if they come over and join us."
Viciedo wasn't prompted by the White Sox to recruit his fellow countrymen. Instead, he contacted them on his own, Cuban to Cuban.
"This is actually something about me reaching out to my fellow Cubans and really wishing the best for them," Viciedo said. "As of right now, they're not signed and I can't tell them which way to go, but I can just give them my advice, especially having come in a similar situation that they're in.
"And also just tell them how much I would really enjoy having them on the team with us here and how good the organization is. I think it'd just be a great fit."
As it stands, the Cubs have shown the most interest in signing Cespedes, but the White Sox were listed by the 26-year-old earlier in the month as one of six teams that had shown strong interest.
MLB
Soler hasn't garnered a ton of attention, as unlike Cespedes, he's not major-league ready. But if the Sox land him, he'd instantly become the best position player prospect in their farm system.