The Orioles have had several conversations with Joe Saunders' representatives, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Legacy Sports represents the left-hander, who is a Falls Church, VA native.
Saunders, 30, posted a 3.69 ERA with 4.6 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 44.5% ground ball rate in 212 innings this past season. He has averaged 200 innings per season since 2008 without striking out more than five batters per nine innings in any of the past four seasons. The former 12th overall pick had an average fastball velocity of 89.6 mph in 2011.
The Rockies, Marlins, Red Sox and Tigers also appear to have some interest in Saunders, who was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks earlier in the month. Saunders and Jeremy Guthrie would provide the Orioles with a pair of solid but unspectacular innings eaters atop their rotation. Tsuyoshi Wada, Tommy Hunter, Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and Dana Eveland are other possibilities for Baltimore's rotation.
I don’t want him either unless he signs a cheap deal.
like 10 bucks per IP?
Jake Arrieta should be in the rotation mix as well.
I think this was a miss, Arrieta is not only in the mix but I’d say he’s a lock for a rotation spot along with Britton and Wada. Matusz will likely secure himself a spot in spring training, assuming 2011 really was an aberration and he’s not actually that terrible. Fingers crossed.
Yup, he’s more in the mix than Brian Matusz. Clear miss here.
Couldn’t agree more!
Tillman, Simon, Troy Patton, Brad Bergeson, and even some of the other AAA pitchers (Vandenhurk?) are also all in the mix. Right now Guthrie is the only definite, unless he is traded, for the rotation. Everyone else has to earn those spots.
Sad group = last place
You forgot Tommy Hunter. I’m pretty sure he has a spot in the rotation. Hopefully the Orioles can get him in shape. I haven’t seen a girth like his in an Orioles uniform since David Wells.
Uh oh I think I smell a new playoff contender
You can make fun, but I wouldn’t feel all that good about what’s happening in St. Louis.
besides the world series they just won…
I think that the O’s or Sox should definitely bring Saunders on board!
– Signed,
The Rest of the AL East
Your sense of humor is blurred
There was no joke.
I really think that the Sox or Orioles should sign Saunders.
Amen
go get him o’s dan really is not lying he is telling the truth joe is great for us
Baltimore?……..well, they try hard……….
Don’t forget every team in the majors will win 60 and lose 60, its the other 43 that count – the O’s its – 5-38 – thus 65-98 and last place = good draft choice and alot of money
Hey… at least they’re not the Athletics?
Gave up 29 HR last year in 212 innings. Plus he has a WHIP around 1.3-1.5 every season. The AL East will crush him. But if its a low cost it will make sense for baltimore. Just expect an ERA in the 4.5-5 range. Still 180 or so inning probably.
kind of amazing how he had a 44.5%GB rate and still gave up 29 HRs
He pitched in Chase Field, a homer heaven and also has trouble pitching around batters. So when he fell behind in the count, hitters would tee off. He’s actually VERY good at keeping the ball down most of the time. But when he makes a mistake with that average fastball of his, it’s an easy mistake to crush. I do know one thing. The man seems to be able to dial up double plays at will when he needs them.
Saunders is not a stellar pitcher. But he is a very servicable, solid, dependable one. You always know what you are going to get at the worst and can occasionally be surprised at him suddenly pitching at his best. When he’s at his best, he’s QUITE good.
His consistency simply lead to his arbitration value being far higher than what his perceived market value was at the time. The Dbacks tried to compromise with him, but he wanted a three year deal and the Dbacks are not in need of a three year vet at that price.
He can likely get what he is looking for in Baltimore, and Camden will be friendlier by far than Chase Field. The AL East is a beast in hitting, but there really aren’t any pitchers left that make anyone feel warm and fuzzy against those lineups. Baltimore will be overpaying for him slightly if they sign him, but they might just be best served to put a stablizing presence like him in the middle of their rotation.
I’d rather have Saunders than a good portion of the clowns the Orioles trotted out last year. Mitch Atkins? Jakubauskas? Jo-Jo Reyes? I like the idea of having Guthrie, Saunders, and Hunter in the rotation. Hopefully all three can save the dreadful bullpen.
Forget Saunders. Get Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt
Oswalt wants to do a one year deal so that he can prove himself to get a better deal. Maybe it’s just me, but if I really wanted to prove myself, I would probably stay the heck away from Camden Yards (and the AL East, for that matter). Jackson is intriguing though. Something tells me the Orioles will overpay for him expecting him to be an ace or the #2 starter.
Agree with everything you say actually
Edwin Jackson is looking for big money, but has never put together a season based on what he is capable of. He should do a one season deal and pitch his mind out and then get his money.
I think they’re better waiting a couple years, letting Machado and Bundy develop a core, and passing up expensive options in a below average crop of available free agents.
True, except that you can’t count on even Machado and Bundy to be sure fire can’t miss sure things, at least not right away. The O’s need to do something in the near future, kind of like the Nats have been doing since last year. If Matusz bounces back next year (and that’s a big if I know) then the O’s could make things a bit interesting if they also had someone like EJ on the team, especially if Wieters continues his ascendance. Frankly, I’d rather see the O’s sign Chen than Jackson, but why not try and get both?
I’d go after Jackson just because he’s more of a sure thing. You never know how international pitchers (particularly those from Asia) are going to translate over to the majors. But then again, the Orioles do need to make some bold moves if they want to earn some respect. Maybe Chen’s a way to do it if they can get him to commit to more than 3 years (because the Orioles are not contending until 2014 at the earliest IMO).
This is a bad off-season for splurging. Lord am I glad the Orioles stayed the heck away from CJ Wilson.
Alright, Falls Church! Always nice to see some homegrown, inside-the-Beltway talent. Northern VA keeps a close watch on locals like Jeff Baker, too. He might make sense for the Nats over someone more expensive and with some injury history like Oswalt. Baltimore makes sense, too, if that’s where the money is.
lol dana eveland
Meh, there are worse starters like BergTilPatMatLand. As long as its not for more than a couple mil a year. The Orioles may be able to field an entire 40-man roster of mediocre to subpar starting pitchers next season.
at least they have a bunch of 4 and 5’s they can trade at deadline time
The bigger problem with signing Saunders to pitch with the O’s is he has terrible career numbers against the AL East. Against the Yanks, Sox, Jays & Rays his WHIP is 1.48 and ERA is 4.75 in 140 innings. Those numbers are dreadful and from a rather substantial sample size. There’s a much better option out there for the O’s in Edwin Jackson. He should come at a slightly higher price but his upside is better and he’s 2 years younger.
Slightly higher? He wants 5 years 15M a year money.
he’s actually from springfield, va, and he has a very good track record pitching at camden yards