We begin this edition of Around the Diamond remembering the life and career of Cuban outfielder Minnie Minoso who passed away over the weekend. Minoso played 12 seasons for the Chicago White Sox and was every bit a representative to the club as the late Ernie Banks was to the Cubs. Coleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune looks back on his legacy and gets player and front office reactions. President and noted White Sox fan Barack Obama also issued a statement yesterday.
After a knee injury predicted to keep him out until the All Star break, Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders has discovered bad news is good news. John Lott of the National Post writes that Saunders knee is so damaged that repair is not an option which leaves half a season's worth of recovery from knee surgery at now 5-6 weeks of rehab and an April return. The long term effects are the long term effects but as of right now, this should not stall Saunders' career.
Perhaps looking to add insurance to Saunders' chronic knee condition, the Jays added Dayan Vicideo this weekend on a minor league contract with a big league Spring Training invite.
Ben Lindbergh of Grantland takes a look at recent retirees Juan Pierre and Adam Dunn. Both were in the same draft class and called it a career around the same time. The two couldn't be more different as players. Or could they? Lindbergh crunches the numbers so we don't have to and we find both had very similar value during the span of their careers. It won't put to rest the debate on WAR (you might use it as an argument against it even after reading) but it's a fascinating comparison of the two.
Rob Neyer of FOX Sports visits the commentary of a less than thrilled David Ortiz who didn't hold back when discussing baseball's new changes to speed up the game last week. Ortiz obviously is known for stepping outside the box and slowing down pitchers over the course of a Red Sox game which already can feel like putting in an eight hour work day sometimes. Ortiz sounds like he has money to spend.
Finally Dayn Perry of CBS Sports previews the very strong free agent class of 2015-16. It doesn't hurt to take a gander at this list as we look at the rebuilding Phillies and some of the players they have yet to trade off, particularly Cole Hamels who is leaving clubs to make the choice on if splashing a few more dollars instead of parting with highly touted prospects is the better move.
