Tigers agree to terms with Alburquerque
Right-handed setup man inks one-year, $1.725 million deal to avoid arbitration
DETROIT -- The Tigers' streak of avoiding arbitration continues. The team settled with the last of its arbitration-eligible players Saturday by agreeing to a one-year deal with right-hander Al Alburquerque.
A source confirmed a report from CBSSports.com on the deal, which will pay the 28-year-old reliever a base salary of $1.725 million. He'll make an extra $12,500 if he appears in 75 games.
The deal comes just over a week after the two sides exchanged numbers. Alburquerque and his representatives at Beverly Hills Sports Council filed for $2.05 million. The Tigers filed at $1.375 million.
Unlike some other clubs, the Tigers continue negotiating after exchanging numbers with players, often using the set of the numbers to find a middle ground. The midway point between the two figures was $1,712,500. Alburquerque said Thursday he expected a deal to get done sometime next week.
Alburquerque made $837,500 last season, during which he set career highs with 72 appearances, 15 games finished, 57 1/3 innings and his first Major League save. He held right-handed hitters to a .190/.281/.270 batting line in 114 plate appearances, while lefties hit .245/.311/.409 against him.
The Tigers have not faced an arbitration ruling since Dave Dombrowski took over team president/general manager duties in 2002. They had four cases to settle this month, including a record $19.75 million deal with David Price last week to avoid a hearing.