Baseball: Jose Valverde, Tigers finalize $14 million deal

DETROIT - Reliever Jose Valverde and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $14 million, two-year contract on Tuesday.

The agreement, which was reached last week pending a physical, includes a $9 million option for 2012.

Valverde had 25 saves in 29 chances for the Houston Astros last year, when he struck out 56 in 54 innings and limited opponents to a .207 batting average. The 30-year-old right-hander was 4-2 with a 2.33 ERA last season after leading the NL in saves with Arizona in 2007 and Houston in 2008.

"We think Jose is one of the premier closers in the game," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He addresses to us what was our biggest need on our ballclub and gives us a chance, we think, to have a very solid pitching staff."

Detroit needed a closer after choosing not to re-sign Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon.

Rodney received an $11 million, two-year contract from the Los Angeles Angels, and Lyon signed with Houston for $15 million over three season.

Valverde said he friends on the Tigers, including first baseman Miguel Cabrera and right fielder Magglio Ordonez, and is looking forward to joining the team.

"I'm so excited right now," said Valverde, who is 19-19 with a 3.17 ERA and 167 saves in seven major league seasons - five with the Diamondbacks and two with Houston. He was an All-Star in 2007 and finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting.

Valverde is a Type A free agent and turned down a salary arbitration offer from the Astros, who will receive amateur draft picks as compensation.

Detroit also said it received cash from San Diego to complete the Dec. 21 trade that sent catcher Dusty Ryan to the Padres. Ryan appeared in 12 games for the Tigers last year, going 4 for 26 (.154) with four RBIs.