The Tigers grand bullpen experiment -- which really isn’t a closer-by-committee thing -- will apparently not last indefinitely:
Valverde will not join the big club immediately, Reusse reports. He’ll presumably go to Lakeland to throw some and then, eventually, find his way to Toledo. And if the Phil Coke/Joaquin Benoit follies continue, Papa Grande -- who saved 35 games last year but proved unreliable down the stretch and ultimately lost his job in the playoffs -- will be dancing his way across a diamond near you soon.
Jose Valverde has signed a minor-league contract w/ the Tigers.
— Patrick Reusse (@1500ESPN_Reusse) April 4, 2013
Valverde will not join the big club immediately, Reusse reports. He’ll presumably go to Lakeland to throw some and then, eventually, find his way to Toledo. And if the Phil Coke/Joaquin Benoit follies continue, Papa Grande -- who saved 35 games last year but proved unreliable down the stretch and ultimately lost his job in the playoffs -- will be dancing his way across a diamond near you soon.
But the Tigers need to act on him soon: his contract has an opt-out clause dated May 5. Meaning if Valverde is not on the big club by then, he becomes a free agent again.
