Joe Saunders

According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have had several conversations with the agent for free agent Joe Saunders.

Saunders was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks earlier this month after posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 31 starts this past season. The 30-year-old left-hander has also drawn interest from the Marlins, Red Sox, Reds and Tigers. Some have speculated that he could get a three-year deal from someone, but that sounds like a bit of a stretch, especially for a team like the Orioles.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that while the Marlins remain interested in free agent left-hander Joe Saunders, they have yet to make him an offer.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported earlier Friday that Saunders could land a three-year deal. We would imagine that whoever was willing to go to those lengths would probably get him, but it remains to be seen if that team is the Marlins. The Red Sox, Reds and Tigers also have some degree of interest in the southpaw.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that there is “belief among some executives” that Joe Saunders could end up getting a three-year contract this offseason.

Saunders was slated to make around $8-9 million in his final year of arbitration before the Diamondbacks non-tendered him, but he’ll have no trouble landing on his feet. The 30-year-old held a 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts in 2011 and has drawn interest from the Marlins, Red Sox, Reds and Tigers.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Marlins are considering signing left-hander Joe Saunders.

Saunders was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks earlier this month despite posting a decent 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts in 2011. The Red Sox, Reds and Tigers have also expressed free agent interest.

During an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM on Friday, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington confirmed that he has been in contact with free agents Joe Saunders and Ryan Madson.

“We?ve had conversations with the agents for both guys as well as several other free agent options. We?ll continue dialogue,” said Cherington. “We don?t have as much room in our payroll as we?ve had in previous years, but we?re trying to figure out ways to improve our pitching staff. Maybe we have to be a little more creative this winter in doing that than in some other winters, but we?re not ruling out anything. We?ll certainly continue dialogue with a handful of free agents and then obviously also the trade front.” Saunders was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks earlier this week, but is already drawing interest from multiple clubs, including the Reds and Tigers. Meanwhile, Madson is quickly running out of places to close, so the market could play into Boston’s hands.