Saunders was released but re-signed with the Mariners on a new minor league deal Tuesday, the Tacoma News Tribune reports. Rather than pay Saunders a $100,000 retention bonus as mandated by Rule XX (B) for major league free agents who signed minor league deals, the Mariners released Saunders and re-signed him on a new deal that isn't covered by those provisions. Saunders was recently reassigned to the minors after giving up nine earned runs on 12 hits and five walks over just 6.1 spring innings. He is not on the 40-man roster and will be hard-pressed to earn a spot this season.