The Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed left-hander Andrew Albers to a two-year contract extension, as per a team announcement (hat tip to The Japan Times). Reports differ on the exact dollar figures— the Japan Times indicates that Albers will earn $1.8MM per season, while The Athletic’s Robert Murray tweets that Albers will actually earn $4.5MM over the course of the contract, with another $1MM available in incentive bonuses. Albers is a client of True Gravity Baseball.
Albers, who turns 33 in October, has a 2.90 ERA, 6.5 K/9, and 4.11 K/BB rate over 108 2/3 innings in his first season in Japan’s top league. Just as he has for much of his professional career, Albers has offset his lack of strikeouts with excellent control, and this season has also seen him limit damage from the long ball (only an 0.6 HR/9).
Originally a 10th-round pick for the Padres in the 2008 draft, Albers has mixed stints in Japan, Korea, and the independent leagues along with 120 2/3 Major League innings for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Mariners. He posted solid numbers (3.51 ERA, 8.1 K/9, and 3.7 K/BB rate over 41 IP, starting six of nine appearances) for Seattle in 2017, before heading oversea to sign with the Buffaloes last offseason.
Can’t make the money here than make it over there. Good for him.
Could they please take Matt too?
Is Matt the ex-Astro or the QB?
Matt Albers is a hitting and baserunning beast! Just ask the Mets.
Good for Albers, but I honestly thought he deserved another chance over here..
His AAA results for Atlanta, were actually pretty solid last year. He showed enough promise for Seattle to take a chance on him, and I thought he still performed pretty well for the Mariners.
I’ve seen several ML starters take the mound this year that are incapable of getting the results Albers is capable of, but it is what it is.
I have to think he often gets overlooked because Albers doesn’t put up great advanced statistics, but the facts are he gets the job done..Oh well, I definitely wish the best for Albers, and hopefully he’s able to earn himself another shot over here..