Hot on the heels of trading shortstop Stephen Drew, the Arizona Diamondbacks now may be looking to trade left-hander Joe Saunders on waivers as well, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
The D-backs placed Saunders on trade waivers Tuesday, according to major-league sources.
And just as the team had a ready replacement for Drew, with shortstop Willie Bloomquist nearly set to return from the disabled list, it has a potential replacement for Saunders.
The "potential replacement" for Saunders is 21-year-old left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who will make his major league debut today against the Marlins in the first game of a double-header. Skaggs, who came to the Diamondbacks with Saunders in 2010 in exchange for Dan Haren, has a 2.91 ERA and 8.5 K/9 in twenty-two minor league starts this season.
Saunders, 31, has posted a 4.22 ERA and 6.2 K/9 in one hundred thirty innings spread across twenty-one starts this year. An impending free agent, Saunders is owed just $1.5 million for the remainder of the season.
The veteran left-hander will clear waivers at 1:00pm EST on Thursday if he goes unclaimed. The Baltimore Orioles have shown the most interest in Saunders, according to Rosenthal's sources, but could potentially be blocked if a contender with a lesser record like the Angels or Tigers claims him.