D-backs deal Saunders, abandon six-man rotation
As expected, the Diamondbacks' six-man rotation did not last long.
Arizona traded left-hander Joe Saunders to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, three days after he cleared waivers, making him available to all comers. D-backs general manager Kevin Towers, known for his ability to identify bullpen arms, acquired right-hander Matt Lindstrom in the deal. Lindstrom's fastball has been clocked consistently in the high 90 mph range.
Saunders, a free agent this winter, saw it coming.
"As soon as we went to a six-man rotation, I kind of figured I had a few more days here. It was definitely easier when you know you're getting traded than when it comes out of left field. This was a little easier to deal with, and it made more sense for both sides," Saunders said before the D-backs' 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Saunders, 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA, was scheduled to pitch Sunday, but right-hander Trevor Cahill went instead. Though his record was not gaudy, Saunders made 14 quality starts, tied for second on the D-backs. The bullpen could not hold four leads behind him.
Saunders, grew up outside Washington, D.C., and attended Virginia Tech.
"I was an O's fan growing up; I went to a lot of their games when I was a kid. I'm excited to get traded to a playoff-contending team. They are in the hunt right now, so it's going to be exciting," he said.
Saunders signed a $6 million deal as a free agent last winter, but the D-backs will enter 2013 committed to their young pitchers.
"There weren't enough slots for everybody. It would've been virtually impossible to get them the starts that they need," Towers said.
Rookie Tyler Skaggs, who won his major league debut Wednesday, will start Monday, and Wade Miley will start Tuesday, the first two games of a three-game series against Cincinnati. Miley, 14-6 with a 2.80 ERA, is a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year.
"With our young guys developing and performing here, we felt this was the correct move," manager Kirk Gibson said.
Lindstrom is expected to join the D-backs on Monday. He was 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA with the Orioles this season and is 15-15 with a 3.68 in six major league seasons, the first three with Florida.
