Jose Valverde

drw3722  3/29/2013 10:30 AM

Valverde threw a bullpen session for scouts yesterday and his fastball was clocked at 93-94 mph and he lost 18 pounds in the off season.  What teams were scouting him?  Will he bounce back from last year?   Do i drop venters for him? Will a team sign him soon? So many questions?

mbuser   3/29/2013 12:16 PM

Venters could be headed for TJ surgery, so he's certainly expendable. But what is doubtful is that Valverde signs and walks into a ready-made closing gig. Who else is on your wire?

drw3722  3/29/2013 3:14 PM

al albequerqe or what ever his name is and scott diamond

mbuser   3/29/2013 5:00 PM

I'd be rostering Alburquerque.

nicholsan  4/23/2013 6:46 PM

Word is Valverde was on a flight to Detroit today and is signing a 1 year deal with the Tigers. Will he close right away? Who knows.

Rondon was called up today with Dotel heading to the DL but Leyland said he won't be closing right away.  My guess is Valverde will close initially and then they'll give Rondon a shot if Valverde struggles.

Just an educated guess but we'll see what plays out over the next few weeks.

mbuser   4/24/2013 12:37 AM

Yes, Leyland says that Valverde will be his closer:
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2013/04/grand_reentrance_jose_valverde.html

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS 
leyland on call to have valverde close: "he's done it & he's not afraid.''

mbuser   6/20/2013 3:13 PM

From yesterday: With struggles mounting, bonuses drawing near, time could be running short for Jose Valverde

Valverde has finished 18 games this season. According to Baseball Prospectus, he will get a $500,000 bonus if and when he finishes his 25th game, then an additional $500,000 every five games finished after that. Keeping him around will get a bit more expensive in the not too distant future. During a radio interview Wednesday morning on 97.1 The Ticket, Leyland discussed his closer situation and repeated that he will use Benoit and Phil Coke in save situations depending on how the opposing lineup sets up but still plans to use Valverde as the closer. "I'm still going to use Valverde," he said. "I just don't think you discard him just yet. I think you still have to give him the opportunity to see if he can anymore or he can't. I think you have to figure that out."

From today: Freep Tigers ‏@freeptigers 
Leyland said Benoit will be closer when available. There is nothing new on when Valverde might next pitch.