According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Seattle Mariners are expected to shop right fielder Michael Saunders at the GM Meetings which begin on Monday at Phoenix, Arizona. Crasnick says the two sides are ready to move on from each other.
That said, Saunders is not really a fit for the Mets on many, many levels. For one, he bats lefthanded and the Mets already have a glut of left-handed options like him including Matt den Dekker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Secondly, he’s 28 years old, set to make about $3.5 million in arbitration after earning $2.3 million this season, and spends more time on the shelf than in the field.
Last month, both GM Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon publicly criticized Saunders for his lack of conditioning and inability to stay in shape. This, more than anything, is why he’ll be an ex-Mariner before the end of the month.
Defensively, over the last three seasons he’s been average to below average depending on which outfield position you play him in.
As to whether this is a player the Mets should be looking at? It makes little to no sense to me.
