Al Alburquerque agreed to a one-year, $1.725 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

Alburquerque agreed to a one-year, $1.725 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

Analysis:

Alburquerque cut his walk rate nearly in half last season (from 6.2 BB/9 to 3.3 BB/9), though the reduction 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 second year of arbitration, and should open the year as one of the Tigers' top right-handed setup men.