Pirates sign Saunders to minor-league deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Canadian free agent outfielder Michael Saunders to a minor-league contract and invited him to major-league spring training. The 31-year-old Saunders hit a combined .202 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 73 games for Philadelphia and Toronto last season. Saunders was an AL all-star in 2016 with the Blue Jays. He is a career .232 hitter with 81 home runs and 263 RBIs in 775 games with Seattle, the Phillies and Blue Jays.