The Orioles announced that they’ve signed Michael Saunders to a minor league contract. The veteran outfielder, a client of Meister Sports Management, will head to Triple-A Norfolk to open the season. FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweets that Saunders’ deal comes with a $1.5MM base salary in the Majors and up to $3MM of additional incentives.
Saunders, 31, struggled through a nightmarish 2017 season with the Phillies and Blue Jays, hitting a combined .202/.356/.354 with six homers in 234 trips to the plate. That, however, came on the heels of a 2016 All-Star selection — albeit one which came as part of a highly uneven season. Saunders slashed a terrific .298/.372/.551 in the first half with the 2016 Blue Jays before cratering with a .178/.282/.357 slash following the All-Star Game.
When healthy, Saunders has demonstrated an ability to play all three outfield slots as well as average or better power. The speed he once possessed has largely fallen by the wayside in recent years, perhaps not surprisingly in the wake of a 2015 operation to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee — an injury that continued to plague him throughout the 2015 campaign.
At present, Saunders is probably best suited for corner outfield duties, though Colby Rasmus made Baltimore’s Opening Day roster as a left-handed-hitting corner bat with a similar skill set, meaning Saunders will likely have to wait for an opportunity in Baltimore. As Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com observes (Twitter link), Saunders will join a crowded Norfolk outfield mix which already includes lefties Alex Presley, Jaycob Brugman and D.J. Stewart (to say nothing of top outfield prospect Austin Hays, who’ll be receiving everyday at-bats there).
The os have done a pretty solid job of collecting serviceable yet unspectacular free agents this year.
Yes they have. Going back to their winning formula of a deep roster. Of course their starters will largely determine what they do this year. Gausman especially will need to step up in a big way.
They’re going to need the offense to step up too. They were below average last year and even if the rotation actually performs, the offense might bring them down.
They were actually 5th in the AL with hits and up there with runs. The offense has never really been much of a problem its been the pitching. This year though i guess everyone decided to stay in Florida
They were 10th in the AL in wrc+
Let’s gooooo Anthony Santander!
Hays is in double A I believe. Saunders may not be down long. Once Santander hits his service time requirement I would assume Saunders has a good chance of being the next guy up. Also wrong DJ Stewart linked for what it’s worth.
Yes but they could also opt to keep Santander on the big league club if he performs.
He only has 55 abs in double A. He’s not ready yet. Could use some work in the minors. Once trumbo’s back there’s even less ABs available. He needs to play everyday.
Seth Smith (left handed hitter) is now 35 but he has a .821 OPS vRHP lifetime. His defense is plodding but he’s not a butcher in the corners. How does he not have a job? He still has a year or so left and has been usable in all of his recent seasons on a platoon basis. What gives?
Glad to see Saunders get another shot but his knee situation may be too much for him to overcome.
Maybe he doesn’t want to sign a minor league deal? That’s the only explanation I have.
He crushed minor league pitching and has done nothing but hit big league guys too. He is big league ready, or at least more so offensively than Hays. He isn’t going anywhere unless it’s to work on defense. He is an improvement over Trumbo offensive and defensively.
Who? Santander? He hasn’t hit big league pitching at all. He has 55 ABS above high A ball and he’s not getting paid 13 million a year. If you think he’s going to stick I’ll have to disagree. Santander crushing high A pitching in 2016 is great but it’s high A pitching.
You could ask the same question of Adam Lind. Lind was excellent last year at the plate; can’t get a job right now which is bizzare
Saunders beat out George Springer for the final fan vote in 2016… Canada sucks.
To be fair he was really good that season in the first half.
They have now completed their man crush signings with Cashner, Rasmus and Saunders. Names that seem to be brought up every year. For the record I wanted none of them.
What do they really expect to get out of this guy when they inevitably bring his carcass up from the minors? Is it the end of the world? Of course not but it’s just adding another log to the mediocre stack that they already complied. I’d rather them take a chance on a young guy that’s got his career in front of him instead of some journeyman that’s washed up like this guy.
But whatever they’re not winning the WS with or without this guy so what does it really matter, right?
It’s beyond me why the O’s didn’t claim Bryce Brentz when they had the chance. But sure, give millions to a guy who had a crap year. smh.
Still paying them for what they MIGHT do rather than what they did do.
He only gets those millions if he makes the major league roster, which seems quite unlikely, honestly.
It’s more likely than not he’ll find his way on the ML roster. He’s an obvious replacement for Santander when he has fulfilled the rule 5 requirement. It’s not hard to imagine rasmus or Valencia being let go if they struggle either. We had 4 guys on minor league deals crack the opening day roster… not hard to imagine Saunders finding his way up here at all.