The Detroit Tigers announced Thursday that they have re-signed reliever Jose Valverde to a minor league contract.
Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski made the announcement before Thursday's game at Minnesota.
Valverde will report to Detroit's spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla., for some work before being assigned to Triple-A Toledo. Dombrowski said there's no timetable or certainty for Valverde to join the Tigers.
Valverde converted 110-of-118 save opportunities in his three seasons with Detroit, including all 49 save chances in 2011.
But the two-time All-Star blew five saves last season and unraveled in the postseason before being replaced by Phil Coke, who recorded two saves in the ALCS and helped the Tigers reach the World Series.
When Valverde became a free agent, the Tigers brought 22-year-old Bruce Rondon to camp as his potential replacement, only to demote him to Triple-A before the season began.
A 10-year veteran, the 35-year-old Valverde has 277 career saves with the Tigers, Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks.
