Free Agent Pitcher Joe Saunders attracts interest from Orioles, Padres, Mariners- MLB News
As more and more signings take place, the free agent market is shrinking and players that carry good value are becoming harder to bag for the ball clubs. Such is the situation of free agent starting pitcher Joe Saunders who is sought after by several teams.
Joe has a 78-65 winning record in the Majors since his career kicked off in 2005 in a total of 189 games, all of them as a starting pitcher. He has 4.15 career ERA with a 1.37 WHIP.
The teams said to be interested in Joe include his last Major League team, the Baltimore Orioles. It is reported that the team has been in contact with him and a lucrative pitching contract is quite a possibility. He came to the O’s in the latter part of
the 2012 season as a trade for Matt Lindstrom.
The 31-year-old has also attracted interest from the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. His experience spanning over seven years make him a hot commodity. The fact that he has pitched in the post-season and with reasonable success also makes him a useful
option.
The Padres in particular will be interested in him as they made a strong comeback in the later part of the 2012 season and would look for a string pitching unit so that they can sustain the success in 2013.
Saunders was originally drafted by the then Anaheim Angels in 2002 in the first round of Major League Draft. His professional career started with the Rookie Class Provo Angels in 2002 in the Pioneer League and he later played for the Class A Cedar Rapids.
He posted a 5-2 winning record with a 2.80 ERA in 13 starts in the first professional season of his career.
He quickly rose throw the ranks in the Angels farm system and within little time was a permanent fixture of the Salt Lake Stingers, a Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Pacific Coast League.
His good work saw him break into the Majors in August of 2005 when he had little success in the only two games he pitched in. However, he made a turnaround in 2006 when he posted a 7-3 winning record in 13 starts with a 4.71 ERA.
His current performance has not been all that great has in the last three years; he has posted a 30-36 record. He did pitch in two post-season games for the birds and posted a win against the Texas Rangers in 2012.
Joe Saunders is a seasoned campaigner and will add value to any ball club that he joins for the 2013 season. He can also act as a mentor to younger pitchers and help them develop at the highest level through his guidance. It remains to be seen though, that
which ball club will eventually benefit from this old war horse.
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