Saunders ready to battle for spot: According to MLB.com, Seattle OF Michael Saunders is ready to compete for a starting job in the outfield this year. Saunders, 25, hit just .149 with two home runs and eight RBI in 58 games last year. "This will be first year where I can focus solely on the game and not personal matters back home," Saunders said on Thursday. "I'm really excited to concentrate solely on the game and that's what is driving me now." Saunders batted .288 with seven homers and 38 RBI in 64 games with Triple-A Tacoma last season. (Updated 01/26/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Saunders has said he feels comfortable heading into spring training and said he hired a batting instructor in the offseason. "Spring training is always a competition. The front office has done a great job producing a lot of young, competitive players moving forward in this organization. There are a lot of talented players for only nine positions on field," Saunders said. "Everyone is coming in excited and I know I am ready to lace up the spikes and go at it." It is good to hear he's ready to compete, but these guys should be ready to fight for a starting job every year. Fantasy owners will want to see if his swing is any better this spring before putting him on your radar. For now, Saunders should go undrafted, but could prove himself worthy later in the year. (Updated 01/26/2012).
09/15/2011 01:52 Mariners top Yanks on Rodriguez's walk-off HR in 12th
Luis Rodriguez led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a solo home run off New York reliever Cory Wade, and the Seattle Mariners delayed Mariano Rivera's chase for the saves record with a 2-1 victory against the Yankees on Wednesday night.
After hitting 10 homers with 33 RBI in 289 at-bats in 2010, Michael Saunders took a huge step back last season and spent most of the year in the minors. He batted just .168 with seven RBI and a .248 slugging percentage over his first 45 games before being sent down to the minors in early June. He proved that he can hit for average and drive in runs at Triple-A Tacoma but was not recalled until rosters expanded, and started eight games down the stretch while batting .042. The 25-year-old still has some intriguing upside but will likely have to fight for a roster spot during the spring. Even if he makes the big club, will likely serve as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Plan on ignoring Saunders in all but the deepest of AL-only formats on Draft Day. (Updated 1/3/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
