At this point, do you want Saunders?

[Frobby]

I've had some mixed feelings about signing Saunders all along. He's a safe guy, but signing him leaves us very little room to develop younger guys with more upside. The Jurjjens signing is one more coin on the "con" side of the scale. So, do you go get him, or not? Forget contract details for the moment.

[Pruke]

I think Buck liked Joe during the stretch. I think he's the type of guy you snag during the stretch vs acquire and potentially not contend.

[MikeAD]

If we have the money and aren't going to spend it elsewhere, I'd just as much sign him. Take any snapshot of weeks-months over the past few seasons and it will show that you can never have enough/too much pitching.

I would not be upset if he doesn't stay though.

[scOtt]

I've had some mixed feelings about signing Saunders all along. He's a safe guy, but signing him leaves us very little room to develop younger guys with more upside. The Jurjjens signing is one more coin on the "con" side of the scale. So, do you go get him, or not? Forget contract details for the moment.

I say let them earn it. I want the depth. I loved having Joe on the team with much ML experience and Playoff experience.

[ba9oriole]

Yes. It is impossible to have too much pitching. Bring back Joe Saunders and sign Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore to minor league deals.

[terpspe]

I do like having depth, especially with pitchers who will have limited innings and the uncertainty that comes with young players.

[skanar]

Voted yes, but that's only with money as a nonfactor. I think he's going to be a bit more expensive than I'd like.

[hendu]

If I hear that they've signed him, I'll be excited. If I hear that the Twins signed him, I'll shrug my shoulders.

[wildcard]

Yes, but only for one year or one year with an option. No two year contract. Not with Bundy and Gausman arriving in 2014.

There are going to injuries - for both the O's and other teams. If the O's are sitting there with a bunch of starting pitchers they will be valuable at some point. To the O's or to someone else that is willing to trade for them.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I think I'd also say yes to a one year contract.

[Old#5fan]

I liked how Saunders performed in the playoffs. IMO he would be worth it as he also adds a veteran presence to the rotation with playoff experience.

[oriole]

At this point the pitching depth is getting pretty crowded...which is generally a good thing but how does it all fit together?

Hammel isn't going to AAA, Chen isn't going to AAA. Tillman is out of options, I'm not sure about Gonzalez but my hope for him is that he'll be pitching well enough to not be sent down. That leaves one spot for a group of pitchers with options who can exchangeable throughout the season. That list is Jurrjens, Arrieta, Matusz, Britton, and S Johnson. If Saunders is signed and there are no injuries, that list will be the starting 5 at Norfolk. Then its a game of waiting for an injury and bring the best man up. That's okay by me but it leaves a narrow opportunity for promotions.

I would like to see Saunders signed if someone like Tillman or Hammel is traded. Something tells me that's not happening but I'd very much like to see a veteran, left handed, innings eater in the mix. Considering the amoung of right handers already on the staff plus Bundy and Gausman being right handed, I don't think it'd be the worst thing in the world to offer Saunders more than one year...as long as someone like Tillman is traded.

This post went no where, I'm aware. I'm thinking out loud. Bottom line, take him or leave him, I'm cool with it.

[backwardsk]

If he's comfortable with potentially being a long man in the pen, then go for it.

I liked the move last year, but i'm comfortable with Britton, Matusz, arrieta, JJ, Johnson, and Wada rounding out the rotation.

[OriolesHash1]

I'd rather have Britton/Arrieta/Matusz/Wada fight for the spot... do really well to improve their value...... then we are able to trade them off for batters when we bring up bundy/gausman

[PA Bird Fan]

Most teams probably need 7-8 guys for the rotation throughout the course of the year. We have a lot of guys with the potential to contribute, but most of the ones we are counting on don't really have much of a track record beyond last year. I think that it potentially goes further than the 5'th spot in the rotation. Arrietta, Britton, Matusz, Hunter, Johnson, Wada, McFarland, etc may be needed to cover multiple spots in the rotation. I like our current personnel, but is not out of the realm of possibilities that Hammel's knee doesn't hold up and Tillman, Chen, and Gonzalez can't repeat last year or perhaps sustain injury themselves.

Saunders provides some certainty. If we end up with too many guys that deserve a spot then that's a problem most organizations would like to have.