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The Tigers signed reliever Jose Valverde to a minor league deal, tweets Patrick Reusse of 1500 ESPN. The team confirmed the signing, noting that he will report to Lakeland for extended spring training.
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Valverde, a client of the Boras Corporation, is the last of our Top 50 Free Agents to sign, and the only one to receive a minor league deal. A minor league deal was a sticking point for the Tigers, said GM Dave Dombrowski. The reliever has a May 5th out clause, if he's not in the Majors by then.
Valverde rejoins the Tigers' organization after serving as their closer for the past three seasons. He struggled mightily in the 2012 postseason, and the team did not attempt to re-sign him. Aside from picking up the club option on Octavio Dotel, Dombrowski did little with his bullpen over the offseason. Relief prospect Bruce Rondon was talked up as the team's potential closer, but he was demoted to the minors last week. The team entered the season with the dreaded closer-by-commitee, which was effective on Opening Day. Yesterday, however, Joaquin Benoit and Phil Coke couldn't hold a lead against the Twins.
Valverde, 35, posted a 3.78 ERA, 6.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 0.39 HR/9 in 69 innings last year. He saved 35 games in 40 tries, but saw his strikeout rate plummet from years past.
