Michael Saunders Gives Phillies Outfield Badly Needed Boost

The Phillies added a big power bat in Michael Saunders for one year at $9 million. Saunders will join an outfield filled with question marks alongside center fielder Odubel Herrera. Right now, Howie Kendrick (.255/.326/.366 last year), Aaron Altherr (.197/.300/.288), Roman Quinn (just 15 MLB games), and maybe even Nick Williams (no MLB experience) are set to battle for the other two spots, but Saunders can give the Phillies some certainty. He is coming off a career year, one in which he batted .253 but set career highs with 24 home runs, 32 doubles, and a .478 slugging percentage over 140 games for the Blue Jays. Unlike most high strikeout, left handed power bats, Saunders has no problem hitting left handed pitching (.275/.358/.569 last year), which means the Phillies won't have to worry about a platoon partner. His bat will help support middle of the order hitters Herrera, Maikel Franco, and Tommy Joseph. For his career, the Canadian has 75 home runs, 114 doubles, a .235 average, and 55 stolen bases over 702 games.