According to Jon Heyman from CBS Sports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one year deal with left handed pitcher Joe Saunders. The deal is for $6 million.
Saunders came up with the Anaheim Angels and was traded to Arizona as a part of the Dan Haren trade mid 2010. Saunders was non tendered by the D=Backs in mid December. His projected salary arbitration was worth $2.7 million more, according to some reports.
The D-Backs rotation is one of the most under rated in baseball, with Trevor Cahill, Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Saunders. All of these players have been acquired via trade, interestingly enough. Teams like the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins showed some interest in signing the left hander.
Saunders is now 30 years old. He has averaged 200 innings or more since the 2008 season, so he is very useful in a young rotation like Arizona's. Overall, solid signing.