Canadian left-hander Andrew Albers recently became a free agent and has drawn interest from a number of big league organizations, an industry source told Sportsnet.
Albers became a free agent when South Korea’s Hanwha Eagles declined the 2015 option on his one-year deal.
Albers expects to sign with an MLB club and appears to be seeking a split contract with incentives. However, it could be a while before a deal gets completed given the slow pace of the free agent pitching market. The Twins are a potential fit for the 29-year-old, who posted a 4.05 ERA with Minnesota in 2013 before leaving for the Eagles on good terms.
The San Diego Padres selected Albers in the 10th round of the 2008 draft, but released him two years later. After a stint with the independent Quebec Capitales of the Canadian-American Association, Albers signed with the Twins, climbed through their minor league system and enjoyed a breakout season in 2013.
The native of North Battleford, Sask. made 10 starts for the Twins in 2013, and the club transferred his rights to the Eagles the following off-season. Minnesota reportedly obtained $500,000 in the deal, while Albers’ contract approached $1 million in value.
Albers struggled in Korea, posting a 5.84 ERA in 146.1 innings, though he did make 27 starts and lead his team with 102 strikeouts.
