Michael

Saunders

Saunders, who turns 33 next month, was a non-roster invitee with the Rockies this past season but was released late in spring training and never caught on with another club. He was an All-Star following a big first half in 2016 but otherwise was pretty unproductive across parts of nine major league seasons. Saunders will be the manager of the Braves’ rookie-level team in Danville.

Saunders was in camp as a non-roster invitee and must have been told he wasn’t going to make the team. He should catch on elsewhere on another minor league deal.

Saunders batted just .158/.273/.248 with two home runs in 154 plate appearances last season between the Triple-A affiliates of the Orioles and White Sox. The 32-year-old former All-Star will probably be nothing more than organizational outfield depth for Colorado in 2019.

Heading into the ninth inning, Saunders was sitting on an uneventful 0-for-2 night plus a walk. He connected on a solo shot off of Francisco Cordero in the ninth, cutting the Jays lead to 5-4. After the Mariners tied the game and forced extra innings, Saunders came to the plate in the 10th with the bases full and unloaded them off of Luis Perez with a towering blast to right field. He finished the game 2-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. It’s surely a night that Saunders won’t soon forget.

Gutierrez suffered the injury while making a throw Tuesday in Mariners camp and flew to Seattle on Wednesday morning for a full examination from team physicians. He’ll be sidelined for the next four weeks, and is certain to open the regular season on the 15-day disabled list. The 29-year-old could even be out until late May. Michael Saunders and Casper Wells are likely to share time in center field in his absence.

Saunders opened camp as a long shot to make the Mariners, but he has a real shot now with Franklin Gutierrez set to miss the first month. Apart from Gutierrez, he’s the best defensive center fielder the Mariners have. His bat has been a huge disappointment, but if he can put together a good spring, then he could begin the season starting against righties in a platoon with Casper Wells.

Saunders’ double was a big one, as it plated the tying run in a 3-2 ballgame in the ninth inning. He’d score the go-ahead run two batters later on a John Jaso single. An everyday player thus far, Saunders is hitting .261/.346/.522. He’s worth a look in AL-only leagues while Franklin Gutierrez works his way back from a pectoral injury.

Gutierrez was recently cleared to throw and has begun taking batting practice. He will likely be eased into action as a designated hitter. It figures to be a lengthy rehab assignment, as he missed most of spring training due to his torn pectoral muscle. Michael Saunders will continue to play center field with the big club for now.

Saunders now sports a .409 clip with a homer and five RBI so far this spring. A month ago he was likely destined to begin the season at Triple-A Tacoma, but with Franklin Gutierrez’s injury, he seems likely to be in a platoon in center field with Casper Wells.

Saunders finished the game 1-for-4 with that solo blast off of Matt Moore in the third inning. He started off the season very slowly, but has come on very strong in the last week, now hitting .253 with four homers and 12 RBI on the season. Once Mike Carp and Franklin Gutierrez return from injury, it’s going to leave the Mariners with some very interesting decisions to make regarding their outfield. In the meantime, he’s a solid fill-in play as a fourth or fifth outfielder in deeper mixed leagues.