Jose
Jim Leyland did not give Jose Valverde a strong vote of confidence but said that the 35-year-old will continue to act as the Tigers closer.
“We’re going to use Jose Valverde until we decide Jose Valverde can or can’t do it or we’ve got somebody else better,” said Leyland.
Signed to a minor league deal at the start of the season the Tigers have had mixed results from Valverde. Currently the right hander has a 4.15 ERA and three blown saves in just 18 appearances.
The Tigers and Valverde have been in this situation before as he struggled badly as the 2012 season came to an end. Valverde was not re-signed over the winter as general manager Dave Dombrowski trusted rookie Bruce Rondon with the job of closing.
Before the first month of the season was completed the Tigers had restored Valverde to the closers role.
