Al Alburquerque

Al Alburquerque

38-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Al Alburquerque in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays in January of 2018. Released by the Blue Jays in July of 2018.
Cut by Toronto
PFree Agent  
July 3, 2018
The Blue Jays released Alburquerque from his minor-league contract Monday.
ANALYSIS
The 32-year-old was in the midst of a strong campaign with Triple-A Buffalo, posting a 3.77 ERA and 8.5 K/9 through 28.2 innings. A veteran of 264 career appearances in the big leagues, Alburquerque shouldn't have much trouble latching on with another organization on a minor-league pact. Buffalo promoted Craig Breslow -- another reliever with extensive MLB experience -- from Double-A New Hampshire to take Alburquerque's spot on the roster.
Read More News
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2017
2017 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Al Alburquerque See More
Team Previews: AL West
Team Previews: AL West
February 26, 2016
February 26, 2016
Paul Sporer provides in-depth previews for all five teams in the American League West. Can Mike Trout keep the Angels out of the division basement?
Collette Calls: AL Closers in Waiting
February 2, 2016
Jason Collette looks at the stats to break down each American League bullpen to find the likely next man up for each team this season.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Alburquerque's game fell apart in 2015, but then again, just about every Tiger suffered that same fate. His brilliant 2014 (2.51 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 63:21 K:BB and 17 holds) fell into the rearview mirror and just looked smaller and smaller every time the reliever took the mound. Alburquerque gave up just over a hit per inning (1.02) while his K:BB rate dropped dramatically (58:33). That great WHIP from 2014 ballooned to 1.55 last season and he ended up on a really short leash. The man known as Señor Slider still has the arsenal to be a good late-inning man, but he is still waiting on a team to give him that chance after being non-tendered by the Tigers in the offseason.
While Alburquerque saw his strikeout rate drop to single digits (9.9 K/9) for the first time in his major-league career, he still managed to put together a solid bounce-back campaign as one of the Tigers' better bullpen options. He appeared in a career-high 72 games, finishing 3-1 with 63 strikeouts, 21 walks and one save. After posting a career-worst 4.59 ERA in 2013, Alburquerque lowered his ERA to a much more manageable 2.51 last season. He also improved his walk rate by allowing a career-best 3.3 BB/9 – still a problem area, but much improved from the 6.2 BB/9 he posted in 2013. Alburquerque has posted FIP of 3.87 and 3.85 in 2013 and 2014 respectively, meaning his effectiveness is likely somewhere in the middle of the final lines he has posted the past two seasons. But improvement could come if his strikeout rate reverts back to his career norm and he continues to cut back on allowing free passes. The Tigers plan to use Alburquerque in a middle-relief role once again in 2015, which will lead to plenty of opportunities for holds while snagging the occasional win or save.
While Alburquerque was able to stay relatively healthy in 2013, he wasn't nearly as effective as past seasons. The right-handed reliever finished the season 4-3 with a 4.59 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 53 appearances. He continued to work as a strikeout artist, though, posting a 12.9 K/9 rate, but that success was offset by a 6.2 BB/9. Despite his rough 2013 campaign, Alburquerque remains an intriguing middle-relief option due to his high volume of strikeouts. His slider is one of the most effective swing-and-miss pitches in the league, but he needs to corral his walks to reach his full potential. The Tigers signed Joe Nathan in December to remedy their ninth-inning woes, so it seems unlikely that Alburquerque will vulture anything more than a rogue save or two.
Alburquerque started the 2012 season on the shelf, missing the first five months of the regular season recovering from elbow surgery. He made his season debut in early September and immediately returned to the dominating form we saw from him the previous season. In eight relief appearances over the final month of the season, Alburquerque posted a 0.68 ERA and 18:8 K:BB ratio over 13.1 innings. His devastating slider remained extremely effective and looks poised to be the source of big strikeout totals. Alburquerque is expected to work the middle innings for the Tigers, but he could also factor into the closing mix if other options fail.
After toiling away in the minor leagues the last five seasons, Alburquerque finally found a home with the Tigers in 2011. The 25-year-old reliever emerged as a main cog in the Tigers bullpen, finishing the year 6-1 with a 1.87 ERA, 1.154 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. While he had a bit of trouble with his control (6.02 BB/9IP), Alburquerque was able to offset the free passes by whiffing 13.92 K/9IP. He relies heavily on his slider, which ranks among the best in the league, while also sporting a fastball that touches 95 mph. Unfortunately, he underwent surgery in December to stabilize a non-displaced fracture in his throwing arm and is expected to be sidelined until the All-Star break.
The Tigers signed Albuquerque to a major league contract in November after an impressive performance in winter ball. The 24-year-old has spent the past five seasons in the Cubs and Rockies farm systems while compiling an 8-15 record with a 4.60 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 174 innings over that span. Albuquerque has a fastball that touches 95 mph and he induces a lot of groundballs, but he'll have to improve his command (85 walks) to be a factor in the Tigers bullpen.
Signed with the Tigers in November 2010.
More Fantasy News
Dropped to minor-league camp
PToronto Blue Jays  
March 26, 2018
Alburquerque was sent to minor-league camp Monday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Headed to Toronto
PToronto Blue Jays  
January 18, 2018
Alburquerque signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Non-tendered by White Sox
PFree Agent  
December 1, 2017
The White Sox declined to tender Alburquerque a contract for 2018, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Promoted to majors
PChicago White Sox  
September 8, 2017
Alburquerque was called up by the White Sox on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Joins White Sox on minors deal
PChicago White Sox  
August 4, 2017
Alburquerque signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Friday, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.