Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he has called the agents for Joe Saunders and Ryan Theriot. Both players were non-tendered earlier this week. Jocketty is getting frustrated in his efforts to land a starting pitcher through via trade, so Saunders would make for a decent alternative. The 30-year-old left-hander posted a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts with Arizona this past season. Zack Cozart is expected to be the Reds' starting shortstop next season, so Theriot would likely have to accept a backup role.

According to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com, the Red Sox "have an interest" in new free agetn Joe Saunders. Saunders was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks on Monday night after the two sides failed to work out a multi-year agreement. The 30-year-old southpaw registered a cool 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 33 starts this past year for the Snakes and is likely to find multiple suitors on the open market. Boston will be one of many options.

Diamondbacks non-tendered LHP Joe Saunders. The Diamondbacks were discussing a multi-year contract with Saunders as recently as last week, but he became expendable following the acquisition of Trevor Cahill. The 30-year-old figured to make $8-9 million in his final year of arbitration, so while he didn't draw much trade interest, he will have plenty of suitors as a free agent. The southpaw posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts this past year for Arizona, though he finished with a career-low strikeout rate.

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said the team would still like to retain Joe Saunders even after the Trevor Cahill acquisition. "He's still somebody we covet, as well as some other free agents," Towers said. The D'Backs have made Saunders a two-year contract offer, but Towers said there's a "significant gap" in negotiations for a multi-year deal. Arizona will not go to arbitration with Saunders, as they don't want to pay him $8-9 million, so they could still end up trading or non-tending him.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that multiple teams have expressed interest in left-hander Joe Saunders, including the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks acquired Trevor Cahill from the Athletics on Friday, which suddenly makes Saunders a potential trade chip. The 30-year-old left-hander is coming off a superficially impressive season, so Arizona will have to hope some team might be willing to take on the roughly $8-9 million he'll make in arbitration next season. He's very hittable, so we don't see him doing well in Boston or the American League East.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that the Diamondbacks could attempt to trade left-hander Joe Saunders. It's quite a change of course for Arizona, as the two sides were discussing a two-year deal earlier this week, but Saunders is suddenly expendable following the acquisition of Trevor Cahill. The 30-year-old left-hander is due a significant raise in arbitration from the $5.5 million he made this past season, so the D-Backs will likely shop him pretty heavily in advance of the non-tender deadline on Monday.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the representatives for Joe Saunders have made a counter offer to the Diamondbacks' two-year proposal. Negotiations are ongoing. There had been speculation that Saunders is a non-tender candidate, but Arizona would like to keep him around without getting involved in arbitration. Saunders posted a solid 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts this past year for Arizona and remains under team control through 2012, but he'd make a fairly significant raise over the $5.5 million salary he earned via arbitration in 2011.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks have offered Joe Saunders a two-year deal. D'Backs general manager Kevin Towers confirmed the offer himself, and Piecoro says it was for two years. There had been some speculation that Saunders was a non-tender candidate, but it's clear that Arizona would like to keep him around. The left-hander posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts this past year for Arizona.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Joe Saunders has a "good chance" of landing a two-year deal this winter. Saunders posted a solid 3.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 33 starts this past year for Arizona and remains under team control through 2012. But he's due a fairly significant raise over the $5.5 million salary he earned via arbitration in 2011, so there has been some speculation that he could be non-tendered. Olney's report would indicate that that speculation was incorrect.

Joe Saunders is a non-tender candidate. Saunders earned $5.5 million this year via salary arbitration and is due a raise heading into 2012. He posted a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts and the D'Backs would certainly like to keep him in their starting rotation, but the 30-year-old lefty may have priced himself out of Arizona's range.