The Diamondbacks can trade Joe Saunders to any team now that he has cleared waivers, John Gambadoro of 620 KTAR in Phoenix reports (Twitter link via Nick Piecoro). The Diamondbacks placed the left-hander on revocable waivers earlier in the week.
Saunders earns $6MM this year — approximately $1.5MM between now and the end of the season — and he will hit free agency this fall. He has posted a 4.22 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 130 innings over the course of 21 starts with Arizona in 2012.
The Diamondbacks appear to have enough starting pitching depth to trade Saunders without compromising their chances of contending. Now that he has cleared waivers they can trade him without concerning themselves with waiver restrictions.
Hahahaha Joe Saunders clears Waivers but Josh Beckett doesn’t. What an odd Baseball Season!
surprised the orioles didn’t claim him
He’ll be traded. There are plenty of teams that would like him, but now that he has cleared the waivers, his asking price is diminished somewhat (though not much). Dbacks have 6 starters on the 25 man roster. He won’t be around for too long.
How’d he get past the Dodgers? He was on waivers, and he makes money. Seems to fit their MO.
If he is now traded, does the claiming team also have to pass him thru waivers if they want to trade him 2 days later?
I expect Saunders to be a free agent target of the Yankees this winter, maybe they can deal and take a test drive.