Former Mariners starting pitcher Joe Saunders is returning to the club on a minor league contract to bid for a job in the bullpen, MLB.com reported Friday. Saunders, 33, was 11-16 with a 5.26 ERA in 32 starts for Seattle in 2013.
Saunders must pass a physical. Pitchers and catchers reported Friday, with first workouts Saturday.
Saunders, a starter most of his 10-year major league career, was 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA in 14 appearances (eight starts) with the Rangers and Orioles last year.
“He’s experienced and when you look at his numbers, he’s been a pretty effective pitcher against left-handed hitters and that’s exactly what we’re looking for,” GM Jack Zduriencik told the website. “We’ve talked about creating some competition for another left-handed spot. Joe Beimel‘s not back, so it creates an opening. We have a lot of candidates and we’ll let them compete.”
Left-handed hitters had a .616 OPS against him last year, compared to 1.143 by right handers. For his career, the OPS is .617 vs. lefties and .836 vs. righties.
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Well, he’s a lefty with MLB experience. Won 11 games with an ERA in the 5’s two years ago, but 2014 was pretty forgettable. We’ll see…a minor league deal won’t hurt anyone.
Welcome back Safeco Joe!!! Evidently Beimel is asking more than the M’s want to pay for his return.