Tigers picks up option of Jose Valverde for 2012 season

The Detroit Tigers announced that the club has exercised the club option on righthanded pitcher Jose Valverde for the 2012 season.

Valverde posted a 2-4 record, 2.24 ERA (72.1IP/18ER), 49 saves and 69 strikeouts in 75 outings for the Tigers during the 2011 season. He established a Tigers single-season record with his American League leading 49 saves. Valverde joined Todd Jones (42 saves in 2000) as the only two pitchers in franchise history to register 40-or-more saves during a single season.

He was selected the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year in 2011, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding relief pitcher during the regular season as voted on by a panel from Major League Baseball.

Valverde converted all 49 of his save opportunities during the season, marking the longest such streak during a single season in Tigers history. He surpassed Guillermo Hernandez who converted 32 straight save opportunities for the Tigers April 6-September 23, 1984. Valverde became only the third pitcher in major league history to be perfect in all of his save opportunities during a single season while posting 40-or-more saves. Eric Gagne converted all 55 of his save chances for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2003 season, while Brad Lidge converted all 41 of his save opportunities for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

Signed by the Tigers as a free agent on January 26, 2010, Valverde has been selected to the American League’s all-star squad in both of his seasons with the club (2010-11). He has appeared in 135 games during his two seasons with the Tigers, posting a 4-8 record, 2.59 ERA (135.1IP/39ER), 75 saves and 132 strikeouts.

Valverde has appeared in 514 games over the course of nine seasons at the major league level with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2003-07), Houston Astros (2008-09) and Tigers (2010-11). He is 23-27 with a 3.02 ERA (521.1IP/175ER), 242 saves and 602 strikeouts during his major league career.