TORONTO -- Good news: Any day now, Hanley Ramirez will return to the Red Sox' lineup.
Wait, is that really good news?
More than 10 years' worth of evidence shows Ramirez is a better player than his replacement, Alejandro De Aza. Ramirez has 206 career home runs, 30th among active players; De Aza has 44. Ramirez has a .499 career slugging percentage and an OPS+ of 131; De Aza is a .405 career slugger with a 100 OPS+. Ramirez is a former Rookie of the Year, a batting champion and a three-time All-Star; De Aza has played for three teams in 10 months and was recently traded to the Sox after being unceremoniously designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles.