Alburquerque figures to be in the mix for the Tigers' set-up job now that Joe Nathan has hit the disabled list and Joakim Soria has been promoted to closer. He, Ian Krol and Joba Chamberlain all figure to see time in the eighth inning and manager Brad Ausmus may roll all three through the position to see who ends up claiming the role. Albuquerque had the first shot at setting up Soria on Wednesday against the Twins, although it was a low-leverage situation with the Tigers up 11-0.

Alburquerque agreed to a one-year, $1.725 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports. Alburquerque cut his walk rate nearly in half last season (from 6.2 BB/9 to 3.3 BB/9), though the reduced walk rate came at the expense of his strikeout rate (9.9 K/9). While the right-hander finished with a 2.51 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 57.1 innings, his career-worst 3.78 FIP suggests he overachieved in his fourth major league season. Regardless, Alburquerque will receive a nice raise in his first year of arbitration, and should open the year as one of the Tigers' top right-handed setup men.

Tigers avoided arbitration with RHP Al Alburquerque by agreeing to a one-year contract. The financials of the deal are not yet known. Alburquerque was arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after qualifying for Super Two status. He put up a 4.59 ERA but struck out a whopping 70 batters over 49 innings last season.

Tigers recalled RHP Al Alburquerque from Triple-A Toledo. Alburquerque continued to struggle with walks since his demotion to Triple-A, but he also continued to strike batters out at an eye-popping rate. In the majors and minors combined, the righty holds a 53/26 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings this season. Manager Jim Leyland doesn't totally trust him given his control issues, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he winds up giving his big arm some high-leverage innings.

Tigers optioned RHP Al Alburquerque to Triple-A Toledo. Alburquerque was sporting a 3.14 ERA in 14 1/3 total innings for Detroit but had allowed a run in each of his last three appearances. The Tigers want him to work on his command against a lower level of competition.

Al Alburquerque experienced a pinching sensation in his right groin Wednesday but expects to be fine. "I think I need to stretch more before I pitch in the game," he told reporters. "It's nothing serious. I don't feel like it's anything serious." Alburquerque has a 1.69 ERA and 18/6 K/BB ratio in 10 2/3 innings this year.

Al Alburquerque pitched another perfect inning Friday to lower his spring ERA to 1.13. Alburquerque has a 12/4 K/BB ratio while allowing one run and four hits in eight innings. He's yet to really prove to be reliable, but Alburquerque is pretty obviously the Tigers' best reliever, having posted a 1.59 ERA in 56 2/3 innings since debuting in 2011. He's a sleeper candidate for saves.

Al Alburquerque fanned all three Astros he faced in relief Monday. Alburquerque still needs to prove that he's reliable after missing much of last season with a stress fracture in his elbow, but he projects as the Tigers' most effective reliever. Whether that will lead to saves is anyone's guess, but he's something of a sleeper.

Tigers recalled RHP Al Alburquerque from Triple-A Toledo. Alburquerque has missed all of this season following surgery to have a screw inserted into his pitching elbow to repair a non-displaced stress fracture. The right-hander posted a 1.87 ERA while striking out 67 over 43 1/3 innings last year and could eventually become a big part of the Tigers' bullpen again.

The Tigers will activate Al Alburquerque (elbow) from the disabled list Sunday. Alburquerque has got his fastball up to 95-96 mph recently and is ready to help out the Tigers in the bullpen. He posted a 1.87 ERA while striking out 67 over 43 1/3 innings last season but has missed all of this year following surgery to have a screw inserted into his pitching elbow to repair a non-displaced stress fracture.