foxsports
DETROIT -- Jose Valverde has worked through his passport problems and threw a bullpen session Wednesday at extended spring training in Lakeland, Fla.
Valverde is scheduled to throw one inning Friday in an extended spring training game and then one or two innings Monday in a scrimmage.
He signed a minor-league contract last week with the Detroit Tigers and is expected to pitch for Triple-A Toledo if he's deemed ready for competition.
Valverde was Detroit’s closer last season and saved 35 games with a 3.78 ERA. But after losing the closer role in the postseason, the Tigers let him leave as a free agent.
Valverde, whose split-finger fastball and velocity went south in the playoffs, couldn't secure a major-league contract during the offseason.
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