Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Edwin Jackson – The Chicago Cubs signed Jackson to a four- year $36 million contract during the off-season. And so far the Cubs haven’t been getting their moneys worth. In two starts Jackson is 0-2 with a 5.73 earned run average. The Cubs’ No. 2 starter got hammered in his last start giving up  five earned runs with five walks and six strikeouts. Jackson

Dan Haren – Haren has been inconsistent in two starts for the Washington Nationals. In his first outing against the Cincinnati Reds the right-hander lasted only four innings, giving up five runs, which four came off of home runs. Haren’s start was a little bit better, but he still manage to struggle. Haren got his first win of the season against the Chicago White Sox tossing over five innings with no strike outs and one walk. He did manage to give up 10 hits though. So far Haren and his one-year $13 million contract has produced a 1-1 record with a 9.00 ERA while giving up 19 hits in two starts.

Joe Saunders – Saunders is fitting in quite nicely with the Seattle Mariners. While his numbers aren’t astonishing he is the best pitcher so far that had been linked to the Padres this off-season. Saunders has a 1-1 record with a 3.48 ERA in two starts for the M’s. Saunders signed a one-year deal this off-season.

Shaun Marcum – Marcum hasn’t pitched a game yet in 2013 for the New York Mets. Marcum is suffering from nerve inflammation in his neck. So far Marcum has been a waste for the Mets at one-year $4million.

Justin Upton – I have every reason to believe that Upton would have been the trade that would have knocked Padres fans’ socks off. Unfortunately, Josh Byrnes was to scared to pull the trigger. That’s just to bad because Upton is having an MVP type season so far.  Upton has a .385 batting average with six home runs and 10 RBI.

Let us know in the comment box what you think about these players.

October 11, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Joe Saunders (48) is removed from the game during the sixth inning of game four of the ALDS against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Saunders, 31, opened the 2012 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being dealt to the Orioles near the Aug.31 waiver trade deadline.

Saunders posted 9 wins with a 4.07 ERA in 174 2/3 innings last season. He also had a low strikeout 5.8 k/9 and walk rate  2.0 BB/9  last season.

In my opinion, Saunders is no better than a No. 4 starter. He definitely is not that ace the Padres desperately need.

Honestly, if the Padres were to sign Saunders I wouldn’t be happy about it. I don’t know much about the veteran or seen him pitch much, but the times I have seen him pitch he always seemed to get racked.

The Padres lost out this year on top tier free agents like Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson and Brandon McCarthy, so the Friars are now left to dig through the scrap heap for a pitcher.

Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below, would you like to see Saunders in the Padres rotation?

Would Saunders be a viable Free Agent option for the Padres to consider? Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

For a team looking for some consistent performances and an Innings-eater at the back-end of their rotation, Saunders is a player who immediately comes to mind.  Over the last two years, Saunders has pitched 386.2 Innings and started 51 regular season games (212.0 & 33 in 2011, 174.2  & 28 in 2012).  While the 31 year-old’s 21-26 record during said time frame (3.69 ERA in 2011, 4.07 ERA in 2012) is not the most stellar, Saunders could provide some stability on the back end of San Diego’s rotation if he can go over 180.0 Innings next year.

Despite the fact that the fences will be moved in at Petco Park this year, it is by no means a band-box, hitter-friendly establishment.  With this in mind, a fly-ball Pitcher like Saunders would be at an immense advantage in a place like Petco, and would definitely feel at ease with the speedy Maybin patrolling the Outfield grass in a venue where balls are less likely to fly out of the park than most other if not all stadiums in the League.  Veteran Pitchers have enjoyed a fair amount of mid-career successes with the Padres over the last few years, and Saunders could be primed to perform well if he is given the chance to start half of his games at Petco.

In terms of his overall “signability,” Saunders made $6 million dollars last season, and it would likely take a contract near that level or above to bring the veteran to San Diego for one to two seasons.  While the Friars do not possess particularly deep pockets, they might want to consider the veteran Starter if he does not receive any particularly lucrative offers from Baltimore or elsewhere around the League.  Remember, San Diego will be without Cory Luebke and Joe Wieland for extended periods during this season, and Casey Kelly and Robbie Erlin could definitely use more Innings at the Triple-A level.  Although Saunders might not figure into San Diego’s long-term rebuilding plans, the Padres would be wise to consider a one to two year stop-gap option in their rotation.  Plus, if Saunders pitches well for the Friars and the team struggles into July, San Diego could trade him to a contending team in need of Starting depth.

At least in my opinion, it could not hurt the Padres to look for another Starter to sign and subsequently bring to Peoria to compete for a spot in the Rotation in 2013.  Whether or not Saunders will be an option for the organization during the rest of this offseason has yet to be determined.  Yet with the Free Agent market dwindling in terms of veteran Starting Pitchers still available, the Padres might want to make a decision on Saunders or a guy like Jackson sooner as opposed to later.  And hey, if the Padres are comfortable with the selection of Starters they have at their disposal for next season, I will stand by them 100% and hope that Tyson Ross, Anthony Bass, or any of the Minor Leaguers who will be given chances to shine can come through for the franchise.

All I hope is that the Padres at least consider the option of adding one more veteran arm to their Starting Rotation.

Stats & Contract Information Courtesy of: Baseball Reference