Tigers sign right-handers Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis
By Jason Beck
With Evan Reed, Jose Ortega and Justin Miller all out of the system, and not a whole lot of relief talent on the verge of the big leagues, the Tigers needed some depth in the organization. They took a step in that direction this week, signing right-handers Alberto Cabrera and Rafael Dolis to minor-league contracts according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Both are Dominican right-handers who came up through the Cubs farm system and pitched in Chicago from 2011 to 2013. Cabrera pitched at Triple-A Iowa this past season, while Dolis pitched in four games for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate in Fresno.
Cabrera, who turned 26 in October, has put up some Al-Alburquerquish numbers, which might be fitting since Alburquerque also came through the Cubs system once upon a time. He was stingy in Iowa in 2014, with just 24 earned runs allowed on 46 hits over 65 2/3 innings. Nine of those hits, however, were home runs. He walked 30 and struck out 61.
Cabrera averaged 93 mph on his fastball during his big-league time in 2012 and 2013, during which he allowed 16 runs on 23 hits over 27 2/3 innings with 23 walks and 31 strikeouts. He also has a slider he throws at 82–83 mph.
Cabrera hails from Las Matas de Farfan in the Dominican Republic, which is the same hometown as former Tiger Ramon Santiago.
Dolis, who will turn 27 in January, threw a little harder in the big leagues, with a 95 mph fastball he threw more than 80 percent of the time. He also has a low- to mid-80s slider. He, too, has some been wild, recording more walks (26) than strikeouts (25) over 44 1/3 Major League innings, during which he allowed 43 hits. His minor-league track record has been better, but he was released by the Giants last May 26 after allowing eight runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings.