Now that they’ve traded for starting pitcher Trevor Cahill, the Diamondbacks look even less likely to enter the 2012 season with Joe Saunders on their roster. Before the deal, Saunders was rumored to be a trade candidate. Now, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that Saunders chance “of sticking around” in Arizona “isn’t good”.
Saunders is in for another round of arbitration this winter, and the right-hander figures to receive a raise from the $5.5 million he made in 2011. With the addition of Cahill to a rotation already sporting Daniel Hudson, Ian Kennedy and Josh Collmenter, Saunders could end up being a fifth starter for the Diamondbacks in 2012.
For this reason Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers has said that he is either going to work out a new deal with Saunders or that the 30-year-old will be traded.
Towers indicated that several teams have expressed interest in Saunders already this offseason, and Piecoro hears that the Red Sox are one of the clubs.
Saunders was solid for Arizona last season. Making 33 starts for the Diamondbacks, Saunders maintained an ERA and WHIP of 3.69 and 1.307 over his 212 innings pitched.
Saunders came over to the Diamondbacks in the summer of 2010 in the trade that sent Dan Haren to the Angels. Over his seven seasons in the majors, Saunders has held an ERA and WHIP of 4.16 and 1.374. The right-hander has started at least 31 games in each of the last four seasons and won 33 games from 2008-09.
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