Saunders was released but re-signed with the Mariners on a new minor league deal Tuesday, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Rather than pay Saunders a $100,000 retention bonus as mandated by Rule XX (B) for major league free agents who signed minor league deals, the Mariners released Saunders and re-signed him on a new deal that isn't covered by those provisions. Saunders was recently reassigned to the minors after giving up nine earned runs on 12 hits and five walks over just 6.1 spring innings. He is not on the 40-man roster and will be hard-pressed to earn a spot this season.

Saunders was reassigned to minor league camp Sunday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Saunders was expected to be out of the running for the second left-handed spot in the bullpen, and that has now been confirmed. He was likely surpassed in camp by both Dave Rollins and Tyler Olson, though Rollins has now been eliminated due to a positive test for a performance enhancing substance. Saunders will likely remain the top left-handed option for the Mariners should one of the two south paws in the Mariners bullpen suffer an injury, but he'll likely begin the season serving as organizational depth.

Saunders, who has allowed seven runs in 4.1 spring innings, is likely out of the running for the second lefty job in the bullpen, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Manager Lloyd McClendon left the door open for Saunders a bit. "I know veterans tend to come later in the spring," McClendon said. "So you have to be patient with your evaluation." Still, Dave Rollins and Tyler Olson have outpitched Saunders this spring. Lucas Luetge and Rafael Perez were both cut last week.

Saunders signed a minor league contract with the Mariners on Friday that includes an invite to spring training, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Not much good can be said about Saunders' 2014 season -- he went 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA and 2.07 WHIP over 43 innings -- but the one positive is that he held opposing lefties to a combined .616 OPS. That number was basically identical to his career mark against left-handers (.617 OPS), and with Seattle rather thin on southpaws in the bullpen, it's possible Saunders could work his way into a specialist role with a strong spring.

Saunders was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Saunders was one of the September call-ups by the Orioles on Monday. He will serve out of the bullpen for the Orioles for the remainder of the season, and will get a chance to prove he's worth keeping on the postseason roster.

Saunders signed a minor league contract with the Orioles on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Saunders will provide the Orioles with organizational depth for starting pitching should they lose a starter to injury. He will join the club's Triple-A Norfolk affiliate Monday.

Royals released LHP Joe Saunders.

Saunders made four starts with Triple-A Omaha, posting a 6.75 ERA. The veteran left-hander will now look to catch on elsewhere.

Royals signed LHP Joe Saunders to a minor league contract; assigned him to Triple-A Omaha.

Saunders was cut loose by the Rangers last week after posting a 6.13 ERA over eight starts. He'll serve as rotation depth in Triple-A.

Rangers released LHP Joe Saunders.

Saunders had been designated for assignment earlier in the week after putting up a 6.13 ERA and 2.07 WHIP across eight starts. As bad as the veteran lefty has been this season, a team with rotation issues will surely give him a shot. It just might be on a minor league deal.

Rangers designated LHP Joe Saunders for assignment.

Saunders gets the boot after giving up seven runs over five innings Monday against the Orioles. The veteran southpaw owns an ugly 6.13 ERA and 2.07 WHIP across eight starts with the Rangers this season. The match was a bad fit from the start.

Joe Saunders was lit up for seven runs in five innings by the Orioles in Monday's loss.

Saunders gave up four homers to the Orioles' right-handed hitters, two of them coming from Steve Pearce. He's doing the best he can with his very limited arsenal, but he's having a tough time keeping the Rangers in games at the moment.

Joe Saunders allowed seven hits and three runs -- two earned -- over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Indians on Sunday.

Saunders walked four without striking out a single batter in the loss. The southpaw is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in four starts this year, and he can be ignored for the purpose of fantasy baseball. He'll face his former club, the Mariners, in Seattle on Saturday.

Joe Saunders allowed two runs while giving up 10 hits over six innings in a loss to the Orioles on Tuesday.

Saunders was by no means great, but he wasn't the reason the Rangers lost on Tuesday -- after his exit, the bullpen surrendered six runs in the eighth inning. The southpaw walked one and struck out two in his time on the mound. Through three starts with the club, Saunders has a 3.68 ERA and an ugly 1.84 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings of work. He'll face the Indians on Sunday.

Joe Saunders got the no-decision, tossing five shutout innings as the Rangers defeated the Twins 1-0 on Wednesday.

Saunders, making his return to the mound after a stint on the disabled list, was quite effective, limiting the Twins to five hits and two walks while striking out six. The lefty is taking Scott Baker's spot in the rotation. While Saunders pitched well, he's risky in all fantasy formats. He'll take the mound against the Orioles at home in his next start.

Rangers activated LHP Joe Saunders from the 15-day disabled list.

Saunders will join the Rangers' starting rotation on Wednesday against the Twins after missing several weeks with a left ankle injury. He's not a good fantasy bet.

Rangers manager Ron Washington announced Saturday that Joe Saunders will replace Scott Baker in the Rangers rotation.

Saunders will be activated from the disabled list to start on Wednesday against the Twins in Minnesota. He has seen improved velocity during his minor league rehab stint, but still makes for a questionable streaming option in all fantasy formats. Scott Baker will return to a long relief role in the Rangers bullpen.

The Rangers haven't decided whether Joe Saunders (ankle) will make another rehab start.

Saunders tossed seven innings of one-run ball in his last rehab outing and proclaimed himself healthy and ready to rejoin the Rangers. "I can't imagine another rehab outing would be in the picture," Saunders said. The lefty status will likely be determined based on how Scott Baker fares during Friday's start against the Tigers. If he pitches well, he'll remain in the rotation and Saunders will likely get another rehab start. If Baker struggles, Saunders could replace him in the rotation next week.

Joe Saunders (ankle) could take Robbie Ross' spot in the rotation next week.

Saunders is making a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, possibly putting him in line to rejoin the Rangers' rotation on May 20. The lefty could also be an option to replace Martin Perez (elbow), who could be headed to the DL. Saunders has been out since early April with a stress fracture in his left ankle.

The Rangers have told Joe Saunders (ankle) that they want him to prepare for a spot in the bullpen.

Saunders, who landed on the disabled list in early April with a bruised left ankle, threw four innings Tuesday in his first rehab start with Double-A Frisco. The southpaw is expected to make more appearances in the minors as he prepares for his new role.

Joe Saunders (ankle) worked four innings in an extended spring training game on Friday.

The veteran southpaw threw 46 pitches in the session. He's scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. With Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis back, it's unlikely that there will be a rotation spot ready for Saunders once he's cleared to return.