Tigers' Closer Jose Valverde Designated for Assignment - East Idaho News
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Tigers’ Closer Jose Valverde Designated for Assignment

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4 4 13%20Valverde%20A?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1371928740939Ezra Shaw/Getty Images(DETROIT) — Jose Valverde’s second stint with the Tigers was short lived as the team has designated the veteran reliever for assignment.

Less than two months ago, the team re-signed Valverde after he was still unsigned around the rest of the league. In 20 appearances, Valverde went 0-1 with nine saves, three blown saves, and a 5.59 ERA.

Valverde had been with the team the previous three seasons. In 2011 he saved 49 games without a single blown save. Last season, Valverde had 35 saves with five blown saves.

Detroit now has 10 days to decide what they’ll do with Valverde. For now, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski wants him to correct his issues in Triple-A.

“We have asked him if he would got to Triple-A for us, and try to work with him there, try to get him straightened out,” Dombrowski said. “He did not give us an answer on that. It really doesn’t make a difference at this point, since we would still have to get waivers at some time. He was open-minded to it. He didn’t say no to it, but he still needed some time.”

For now, Jaoquin Benoit will take over for Valverde and serve as the team’s closer. So far this season, Benoit is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. The most saves he’s ever recorded in a single season was just six back in 2007 with the Texas Rangers.

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