MLB free agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Michael Saunders
Coming off the best full season of his MLB career, All-Star outfielder Michael Saunders should draw plenty of interest on the open market. Which teams make sense?
After injuries derailed most of his 2014 and 2015 seasons, Michael Saunders enjoyed a productive 2016 season and made his first All-Star team. The British Columbia native made good on his return home to Canada and hit 24 home runs while driving in 57 RBI. Entering free agency, he was able to prove the knee injury that kept him out for all but nine games of the 2015 is not a long-term concern.
Saunders made the All-Star Game on the heels of a very good first half in which he batted .298/.372/.551 with 16 home runs. Offensively, Saunders fell off a cliff in the second half, slumping to a .178/.282/.357 line with only eight home runs and 15 RBI. Going forward, Saunders is likely best utilized as a platoon option in one of the corner spots. His career OPS against right-handed pitching is nearly 50 points higher. It is worth noting, however, that in 123 plate appearances against lefties in 2016, Saunders produced a .927 OPS with eight home runs.
The 30-year-old outfielder’s career line of .235/.309/.402 does leave something to be desired, but his hot start to the 2016 season showed that there may be some untapped potential left. Saunders is a former top prospect who never could quite blossom with the Seattle Mariners. Considering that Josh Reddick received over $50 million from the Houston Astros to serve as a fourth outfielder/platoon bat, Saunder is still set up to receive a nice payday.
While Saunders may never make another All-Star team, he is more than capable of playing an important role on a contending ballclub. His power and on-base abilities will generate interest on the free-agent market. Which teams will be in on Saunders? Here are the five best potential landing spots.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays may be “keeping the door open” in regards to a reunion with Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in name only, but they should be serious about pursuing a new contract with Saunders.
“(Saunders) is by no means off our radar,” Toronto GM Ross Atkins said. “What we’re doing is trying to understand all of our alternatives and what the costs are and then trying to piece together the best possible scenario, to build the best team. But he is squarely on our radar. We will continue to try and make our team better any way that we can, and he is certainly an alternative.”
Saunders should be ticketed for a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $33-36 million. That should be well within the Blue Jays price range. A similar deal was struck with Kendrys Morales. There could be some roadblocks to seeing Saunders re-sign with the Blue Jays. Last summer, the Jays traded for Melvin Upton, and he will also return for the 2017 season. Saunders and Upton have relatively similar skill profiles at this point of their careers. They will both bat close to .250 with 20-25 home runs in a good season.
Ezequiel Carrera also emerged as a surprise offensive contributor down the stretch last season. He is a pesky hitter and remains under team control for another season. Carrera can lead off when called upon, and is a cheaper left-handed platoon option than Saunders. The Blue Jays also have to determine whether or not top prospect Dalton Pompey is actually a viable option in their long-term plans. The Blue Jays should have interest in bringing Saunders back, but it will only be at their pre-determined price.