TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels optioned Al Alburquerque to Triple-A on Tuesday morning, leaving Cam Bedrosian and Greg Mahle as the final two candidates to win the seventh spot in the bullpen for opening day.
Alburquerque, 29, gave up up four earned runs in eight innings this spring, with 13 strikeouts. The Angels signed him as a free agent hoping he could bounce back from last year's 4.21 ERA with the Detroit Tigers. He had posted a 2.82 ERA over his first four seasons in Detroit.
Among the final two candidates, Bedrosian seems likely to get the nod over Mahle, although both have impressed the staff this spring.