Tigers agree to terms with pitcher Octavio Dotel

The Detroit Tigers announced the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a club option for the 2013 season with righthanded pitcher Octavio Dotel.

Dotel split the 2011 season between the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals, compiling a 5-4 record, 3.50 ERA (54.0IP/21ER), three saves and 62 strikeouts in 65 appearances. He limited opponents to a .185 batting average (36x195) this past season. Dotel appeared in 12 games with the Cardinals during the post-season in 2011, posting a 2-1 record, 2.61 ERA (10.1IP/3ER) and 14 strikeouts.

“We are pleased to add an established reliever like Octavio Dotel,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “He has been successful in various roles throughout his major league career and his addition to our club solidifies our bullpen for the 2012 season.”

Dotel has appeared in 695 games during his 13-year career at the major league level with the New York Mets (1999), Houston Astros (2000-04), Oakland Athletics (2004-05), New York Yankees (2006), Kansas City Royals (2007), Atlanta Braves (2007), Chicago White Sox (2008-09), Pittsburgh Pirates (2010), Los Angeles Dodgers (2010), Colorado Rockies (2010), Blue Jays (2011) and Cardinals (2011).

He has compiled a 54-47 record, 3.74 ERA (888.1IP/369ER), 108 saves and 1,077 strikeouts during his major league career. Dotel is fourth among all active major league relief pitchers with 11.47 strikeouts per nine innings, while he is fifth with 6.66 hits per nine innings and sixth with a .204 batting average against.