Tigers to scout relief pitcher Matt Albers in Houston next Tuesday

Matt Albers made just eight appearances during the 2014 season for the Houston Astros before his season ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury. Albers is expected to hold a workout in the Houston area on February 10, and the Tigers are expected to be on hand according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press via Twitter.

Albers had a couple of fine seasons, posting a 3.14 ERA and a 3.49 FIP in 56 appearances with the Cleveland Indians in 2013, and working 63 games with a 2.39 ERA for the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2012 season. He was involved in a mid-season three-way trade that also involved the Cincinnati Reds that year.

The Astros signed Albers to a one year, $2.4 million contract for the 2014 season, with a $3 million option for 2015. That option was declined after the season. Albers, now 32, reports that he is 100 percent healthy.

Prior to 2014, Albers had worked at least 60 innings in each of the five previous seasons. BYB included him in a list of relief pitchers still available in this article, which was published in January.

Albers could be a good "buy low" bargain if he can regain his form and remain healthy for the 2015 season. While the Tigers say they would be happy to enter the season with their current players in the bullpen, they will do their due diligence and see what good pitchers might be without a team as teams head to spring training in just two weeks.