The Tigers’ bullpen reconstruction will not include Neftali Feliz or Al Alburquerque. The two right-handers were nontendered Wednesday, making both of them free agents.
The two decisions cut potentially $7 million off the Tigers’ projected 2016 payroll, which currently has around $145 million guaranteed to eight players after Jordan Zimmermann signed a five-year, $110 million contract on Monday. Three other arbitration-eligible Tigers — shortstop Jose Iglesias, infielder Andrew Romine and outfielder J.D. Martinez — were tendered contract offers.
Neither nontender is a particular surprise, given what they were projected to make in arbitration. Their chances of returning hinged largely on the Tigers avoiding arbitration by working out a deal for a lower salary.