After going back-and-forth in recent months, the Diamondbacks and left-hander Joe Saunders have reached an agreement on a one-year, $6 million deal. "It's a veteran who pitched well in the division on a division-winning team who can help lead (the pitching staff)," Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said. "And it allows our (pitching prospects) more time in the minor leagues to develop. We don't think it's going to be too long before they're ready, and if there's an injury we've created more depth." The deal is worth less and is for fewer years than Saunders expected to land on the open market and the value also pushes Arizona above the team's believed payroll threshold. Saunders was non-tendered in December, as the Diamondbacks believed the roughly $8.5 million he would have earned in arbitration would be better allocated elsewhere.