Headlines

  • Rhys Hoskins Carted Off Field Following Knee Injury
  • Jed Lowrie Announces Retirement
  • Jose Altuve To Miss About Two Months Due To Thumb Surgery
  • Rockies Sign Jurickson Profar
  • Braves Option Vaughn Grissom, Braden Shewmake
  • Jose Altuve Leaves WBC Game After Hit By Pitch
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Orioles Grant Michael Saunders His Release

By Steve Adams | May 15, 2018 at 4:28pm CDT

Veteran outfielder Michael Saunders has asked for and been granted his release by the Orioles, per David Hall of the Virginian Pilot (Twitter link). Saunders had an opt-out clause in his deal, Hall adds.

The 31-year-old Saunders signed a minor league pact with the Orioles in early April after bouncing from the Pirates to the Royals in Spring Training. He opened the season with Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk but has gotten off to a rough start, hitting just .161/.291/.253 with a homer, three doubles, a triple and two steals in 103 plate appearances. Saunders punched out 23 times but also drew 16 walks in his brief stint with the Tides.

Saunders enjoyed an All-Star first half with the Blue Jays in 2016 but wore down in the second half of that season before a disastrous 2017 with the Phillies. The former top prospect often showed potential with the Mariners produced in Seattle when on the field, but injuries have been an ongoing issue throughout his career. Most recently, he missed the majority of the 2015 season after suffering a torn meniscus in Spring Training that required surgery. Saunders has also dealt with shoulder injuries and missed time due to an oblique issue in the Majors as well.

Share 0 Retweet 4 Send via email0

Baltimore Orioles Transactions Michael Saunders

Adam Eaton Targeting Return In Six Weeks
Main
Dodgers Activate Justin Turner, Logan Forsythe
View Comments (17)

Comments

  1. xabial

    5 years ago

    Hi guys! 2 questions.

    1) Was his disastrous 2016 2nd half collapse a top-10 collapse all-time? (Considering he made 2016 All-Star?)

    2) Why is he nicknamed, “The Condor”? Because his bat died 2016 2nd half and has never resurrected since?

    Reply
    • jbigz12

      5 years ago

      No. Simple as that.

      Reply
      • xabial

        5 years ago

        Not trying to make fun (only the nickname), but I’ve never seen someone fall from grace, quick as Saunders. I know many players struggle 2nd half, and others vice versa, but just wanted someone to shed light on the matter.

        For what it’s worth, I don’t like the nickname (hence the friendly jab) but I’m rooting for him to succeed, despite long road ahead.

        Reply
        • alexmiller6677

          5 years ago

          Will Middlebrooks. He fell like a stone Phoenix.

    • hiflew

      5 years ago

      Top 10? Yes, I’d say so. I consider Domonic Brown to be the worst drop offs for an All Star with Brad Hawpe a close second.

      EDIT: I completely forgot about Bryan Lahair. Actually I forgot he was even a player, let alone an All Star. He’s probably the worst.

      Reply
      • connfyoozed

        5 years ago

        For pitcher drop-offs I nominate Jeff Locke.

        Reply
        • Meh Sheep

          5 years ago

          Ubaldo Jimenez was 15-1 at the All Star break in 2010. Never sniffed an All Star team or topped 200 innings again in his career. He did get paid a bunch of money though.

  2. realgone2

    5 years ago

    might be end of the line

    Reply
  3. Yankees1991

    5 years ago

    “Long Island Ducks sign veteran OF Michael Saunders” will be the next times we see his name in the news.

    Reply
    • camdenyards46

      5 years ago

      That’s right….or he can go play with Palmeiro on the Railroaders.

      Reply
  4. Yankees1991

    5 years ago

    “Long Island Ducks agree to sign veteran OF Michael Saunders”

    Reply
  5. allmighty

    5 years ago

    Bryan Lahair …. all star with cubs then sat the bench second half

    Reply
  6. Batter Up

    5 years ago

    He should’ve stayed in triple A with the team because nobody is going to sign him, but his pride would not let him.

    Reply
    • antibelt

      5 years ago

      He may not have had a choice. The team also needs to decide who deserves playing time moving forward. Same reason Jarrett Parker was released by Giants instead of being demoted.

      Reply
      • Reflect

        5 years ago

        The article implies he had a choice, since it said “he was granted” and that he had an opt out in his contract.

        Reply
  7. athingortwo

    5 years ago

    Ya know…snide remarks, especially coming from those who make them who have never accomplished a darn thing in sports, maybe in life but not in sports have no place here. But that’s just me.

    Reply
  8. athingortwo

    5 years ago

    Everything has been said.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Rhys Hoskins Carted Off Field Following Knee Injury

    Jed Lowrie Announces Retirement

    Jose Altuve To Miss About Two Months Due To Thumb Surgery

    Rockies Sign Jurickson Profar

    Braves Option Vaughn Grissom, Braden Shewmake

    Jose Altuve Leaves WBC Game After Hit By Pitch

    Edwin Diaz Undergoes Surgery To Repair Patellar Tendon

    Out Of Options 2023

    Cade Cavalli To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Edwin Diaz Helped Off Field With Right Knee Injury

    José Quintana Out Until At Least July Due To Rib Surgery

    Trevor Bauer Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars

    Craig Stammen “Highly Unlikely” To Pitch Again Following Shoulder Injury

    Diamondbacks, Corbin Carroll Agree To Eight-Year Deal

    Nationals Sign Keibert Ruiz To Eight-Year Extension

    Rockies Showing Interest In Jurickson Profar

    Andrew Painter Diagnosed With UCL Sprain; Ranger Suarez Dealing With Forearm Tightness

    Marlins, Jose Iglesias Agree To Minor League Contract

    Marlins In Agreement With Yuli Gurriel On Minor League Deal

    Carlos Rodon, Tommy Kahnle, Lou Trivino To Begin Season On IL

    Recent

    Cubs Trade Esteban Quiroz To Phillies

    Tigers Sign Jose Alvarez To Minor League Deal

    Rhys Hoskins Carted Off Field Following Knee Injury

    James Outman, Jason Heyward Will Make Dodgers’ Opening Day Roster

    Cardinals Notes: Montgomery, Barrera, Knizner, Bullpen, Motter

    Jed Lowrie Announces Retirement

    Read The Transcript Of Our Chat Hosted By MLB Catcher Ryan Lavarnway

    Braves To Place Raisel Iglesias On Injured List

    Adam Wainwright To Open Season On Injured List

    Cubs Offseason Chat Transcript

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version