Detroit Tigers: Best January Moves Since 2000

January 19, 2010  – Detroit Tigers sign José Valverde

Seasons with the Detroit Tigers: 4
Career WAR with the Detroit Tigers: 3.6

It can be hard to remember the positives about a player when the end of his career goes so poorly (see Joe Nathan, Francisco Rodriguez, etc.), but for a few seasons José Valverde was a very effective closer for the Detroit Tigers. A strong group of relievers helped the 2006 Tigers make the World Series, but by 2009 the bullpen was in shambles. Todd Jones had retired after a brutal 2008, Joel Zumaya was injury prone, and though Fernando Rodney stepped into the closer’s role in 2009, he was still several years away from finding himself.

Valverde was a former All-Star and had 167 career saves when the Tigers signed him. He made two more Midsummer Classics with Detroit, and in 2011 he won the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award after going 49-for-49 in save opportunities. Valverde was always a bit of an adventure, and by 2012 it was clear he could no longer throw his splitter. Still, he gutted out another 35 saves before losing the closer’s job after two huge blown saves in the playoffs. The Tigers invited him back for 2013, but they released him after he posted a 5.59 ERA through 20 games. His 119 saves with Detroit ranks fifth among Tigers relievers, and his 91.5 percent save conversion rate is best in franchise history.