Ex-Blue Jay Michael Saunders, Phillies reach 1-year deal
Victoria native set career high in homers in 2016 but tailed off after hot start
Michael Saunders' tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays is over after one full season.
The free-agent outfielder on Monday agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth $9 million US, according to several media outlets. The deal also includes a reported $11 million team option for 2018 that could reach $14 million.
Saunders, a native of Victoria, had expressed interest in possibly re-signing with the Blue Jays as recently as over the weekend until reports of fellow outfielder Jose Bautista's pending return to Toronto surfaced.
The 30-year-old's first season with the Jays in 2015 lasted nine games when left-knee surgery, the result of stepping on a sprinkler head during an informal workout at the team's spring training site, limited Saunders to nine games before he was shut down for the season.
He rebounded in 2016 with a .298 batting average, 16 home runs and .372 on-base percentage in his first 305 at-bats to earn the first all-star nod of his eight-year major league career.
But Saunders struggled mightily after the break, posting a .178 average and eight homers over 185 at-bats. The six-foot-four left-fielder's on-base-plus slugging percentage was .923 in the first half and .638 post-all-star break.
Saunders, who wasn't extended a qualifying offer by the Blue Jays after the season, appeared in a single-season career-high 140 regular-season games and hit .253 overall with a career-best 24 home runs along with 57 runs batted in and a .338 OBP.
His previous high for home runs in a season was 19 with Seattle in 2012, where he spent the first five years of his big league career.
Saunders was acquired from the Mariners in December 2014 for left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ, who returned to the Jays last off-season as a free agent and won 20 games.
The Phillies, whose offence ranked at the bottom of the 30-team majors last season, had been looking to add a left-handed power bat to their lineup.
Saunders will join an outfield that features youngster Odubel Herrera and veteran Howie Kendrick.
Besides Kendrick, a converted second baseman, Philadelphia has been active this off-season, acquiring starting pitcher Clay Buchholz and relievers Pat Neshek and former Blue Jay Joaquin Benoit.