The Rockies have released outfielder Michael Saunders, Nick Groke of The Athletic tweets. Saunders joined the Rockies on a minor league contract in January.
This is the latest disappointing development for the 32-year-old Saunders, whose career has fallen off a cliff since the second half of the 2016 season. Then with the Blue Jays, Saunders earned an All-Star nod on the strength of a terrific first half, but his numbers declined sharply thereafter. While Saunders did land a $9MM guarantee from the Phillies during the ensuing offseason, he fared so poorly with them that they released him that June. Saunders then ended up returning to the Blue Jays, though the Canadian wasn’t able to work his way back to relevance in his second stint with them.
Also a former Mariner – with whom he was a well-regarded prospect – Saunders hasn’t played in the majors since his ill-fated 2017 campaign, and his 2018 minor league production with the Orioles and White Sox was woeful. The lifetime .232/.305/.397 hitter did put together a respectable .261/.393/.348 line during 23 spring at-bats with the Rockies, however.
I’m surprised MLBTR hasn’t reported how the blue jays are going to double the pay of all of their minor leaguers
Have they reported on the minor leaguer’s lawsuit?
They didn’t double it. it’s a 50% increase.
Never the same after he stepped on the sprinkler head in spring training. He used to be able to to cover CF, now he’s slow as molasses. Too bad!
I always liked his swing. It was lightining fast when he came back from injury [too soon] with the Jays. The swing slowed down considerably as that year wore on and became less than major league level with the Phillies.
I wonder if he can get back to the fast hands he had?
Nats might come calling
He can’t play CF anymore.
Sad news for the Condor. He showed a lot of promise before Jack Z got POed at him for some comments. I wish him well in his next moves.
I always rooted for The Condor. He came across as a great guy. He showed flashes as a Mariner but he was part of that cabal that year after year us M’s fans hoped would develop but really never did. Saunders, Ackley, Brad Miller, Zunino, Smoak, Nick Franklin, Jesus Montero. A sad trail of heartbreak for us long suffering fans. Dipoto was smart to flush the organization of these guys as they represented so many failed seasons. I wish them all well but I’m glad they’re elsewhere.
This was the Mariner’s opening day lineup in 2011. Just 7 seasons ago. Read it and weep.
1. Ichiro (a down trending Ichiro that hit .272 that year with a lousy OBP)
2. Chone Figgins (look him up/throw up)
3. Milton Bradley (certifiably insane plus really crappy baseball player by this stage)
4. Jack Cust (Great signing Jack Z!)
5. Justin Smoak (A switch non hitter. Anemic from both sides. Cringe worthy while an M)
6. Miguel Olivo (meh)
7. Ryan Langerhans (filling in for the always injured Franklin Gutierrez. Loved that kid but…)
8. Brendan Ryan (Mendoza line hitter but what a glove.)
9 Jack Wilson (former Pirate all star way past his prime)
There it is! Maybe the worst offense in MLB history. Thanks Jack Z!
Jacky Z. was a crappy GM in so many ways. Every year he sold the Seattle Times a bill of goods about how this was the year the youngsters were gonna take that big step forward. Milton Bradley was the worst acquisition EVER. Clubhouse cancer, on field incompetent. The Cubs laughed for years after they traded him to Jacky Z.
Theo should give him a look. He fits the Cubs budget like a cheap Daniel Murphy who is fighting to get his swing back. Although he is at the higher end of the Cubs age profile.
Just stop please
He’s Giant material. Ugh Farhan is not earning fans here in the Bay. Blocking prospects and getting retreads that show no glimpse of any respectability anymore.
The Giants aren’t interested ‘cuz they’re in talks with both Chili Davis and Kevin Mitchell as well as the Alou brothers if they are…you know….still alive.
Good call. Let’s judge Zaidi’s tenure after five months. The number of Dodgers fans lamenting the loss of Zaidi should tell you something.
The guy should of been a career minor leaguer with his stats and at 32 he should enjoy what he had. Some people act like he was the second coming of Mickey Mantle.
However, he IS the Mickey Mantle of British Columbia.
Larry Walker would be that’s answer to that question nobody asked.
The Land of the Rising Sun is calling his name, and he should probably answer.
At this point he probably missed that boat. We’re talking México.
For Japan or Korea success a player needs to master approach to off speed pitch. Also Korea teams like to have player who comes to play in Korea, not to have short audition to get back to US MLB.
Suanders does not fit requirements.
Wasn’t great before the sprinkler injury, lost his speed afterward while management rushed him back to the field to damage him some more. Yet with all the disdain for Atkins and Shapiro, Anthopoulos is worshipped despite what he did to Saunders.
Saunders could land in the Braves organization.
Yeah I’m sure AA sent down a direct order from the front office to make sure Saunders start playing immediately regardless of anything the medical staff says
I’m pretty sure they waited the right amount of time for the procedure he had anyways. Had they done the more invasive procedure, he would’ve needed around five months to recover. There was nothing wrong with how he was handled, just an unfortunate outcome.
Then you didn’t watch the 2015 season. Saunders was clearly limping and in pain. There is zero chance the organization handled the Michael Sanders situation well. Blame the medical staff and upper management. He tore his meniscus in March and was back April 25.
April 25. Six weeks on a torn meniscus. That is insane, stupid and reckless. And he was shut down the rest of the season. That’s proof enough of negligence and stupidity. If you want to believe the organization did right by Michael Saunders then you should suggest guys pitching through TJ surgery and maybe ice for a week.
I think Saunders should hang up he cleats or go finish his career in KBO or some other league. This guy has fallen so fast, it is unbelievable.
Not trying to be biased, but the cards could pick him up. They could use a left handed hitting corner outfielder, for depth or off the bench. But other than that, I feel bad for Saunders just because he has lost his job from so many teams. He was even cut from the Orioles but at least they were half decent back then.
Cleveland Indians give him a call.
No
Giants will sign him
Giants outfielders all AAA level