Detroit Tigers Links: Torii shops for new team, Al Alburquerque could become rock

Yesterday for my day job I wrote about a business that resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico and it reminded me how much I hate spelling that word whether it is in my day job when it is spelled A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E or in my blogging career when it is spelled A-L-B-U-R-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E as in Al Albu….well you know the rest.

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But Al-Al, as he is known as to give sports writers brains and fingers a break, is the potential wildcard in the Detroit Tigers 2015 bullpen. While we discussed last week how awful last year’s bullpen was and how it is shaping up to be that way again in 2015, we rarely mention Al-Al who put together a very solid season. If the Tigers find a way to make additions that improve their bullpen, Al-Al could be a stabilizing force as Brad Faber discusses.

But first up, we look at Torii Hunter spending his Black Friday weekend shopping for a new team in the twilight of his career. Torii has a list and it will be interesting to see where he lands. While I understand why the Tigers didn’t pursue him after resigning Victor Martinez it won’t be fun seeing Hunter hitting against the Tigers next year–unless he strikes out a lot–again.

Ex-Tiger Torii Hunter reportedly looking at four teams – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"Hunter told Mark Whicker of the Los Angeles News Group on Saturday that he is looking at the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and maybe the Minnesota Twins in free agency. These four finalists come after rampant rumblings earlier in the off-season that the defending AL champion Royals were interested in the veteran rightfielder."

New And Arguably Improved Al Alburquerque Could Give Detroit Tigers Dependable Reliever Going Forward – Brad Faber, Rant Sports

"Sure, on the surface, his 3-1 record, 2.51 ERA and 1.17 WHIP appear to be a clear upgrade from the numbers he posted in 2013. However, Alburquerque’s strikeouts were down as he punched out 63 batters in 57.1 innings, dropping his K/9 to 9.89. This was the lowest mark of his career, and his 3.78 FIP was also the highest mark of his career. His 3.33 xFIP, on the other hand, was a bit down from the 3.48 mark he posted in 2013."