Michael Saunders is headed back to the Toronto.
Well, Buffalo, if we're being technical.
Saunders on Wednesday signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays and will report to Triple A.
The 30-year-old outfielder was officially released by the Phillies on Monday (along with reliever Jeanmar Gomez) after being designated for assignment last week.
In 214 plate appearances with the Phils, Saunders hit just .205 with a .617 OPS and his .257 on-base percentage was the lowest among all qualified National Leaguers.
For that, the Phillies paid him $9 million - $8 million in 2017 salary and $1 million in the form of a 2018 buyout.
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Saunders spent the 2015 and '16 seasons with the Blue Jays and made the AL All-Star team last season. He hit .314 with 15 homers and a .999 OPS in 61 games through June 17 and positioned himself for a big contract in the offseason. But he hit just .202 the rest of the season and lingered in free agency until the Phillies swooped in and signed him, thinking they were buying low with a chance to flip him at the trade deadline.
Instead, the Phillies ended up paying Saunders $147,540 per game.
