The Tigers have picked up 33-year old righty closer Jose Valverde’s option for 2012, valued at $9 million bucks. Valverde pitched in 75 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-4 with 49 saves (none blown), with a 2.24 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 135 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 4-8 with 75 saves, a 2.59 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Valverde is already #6 in Tigers’ history in saves with 75 of them. This was a smart move for the Tigers, as Valverde has been excellent in his two years with the team.

UPDATE: (11/15/2011) - Jose Valverde finished in 5th place in the voting for the A.L. Cy Young Award today.

The Detroit Tigers have seven potential free agents after the World Series is over. This is who I see staying and leaving out of that bunch:

Carlos Guillen: 36-year old switch-hitting 2B Carlos Guillen played in 28 games for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 22 for 95 (.232 avg, .633 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He just can’t seem to stay healthy. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Ramon Santiago: 32-year old switch-hitting 2B Ramon Santiago played in 101 games for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 67 for 258 (.260 avg, .695 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 5 homers and 30 RBIs. PREDICTION: STAYING

Wilson Betemit: 29-year old switch-hitting 3B Wilson Betemit played in 40 games for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 35 for 120 (.292 avg, .871 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 5 homers, 19 RBIs an 1 stolen base. He played in 97 games overall for the Royals & Tigers and he was 92 for 323 (.285 avg, .795 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 8 homers, 46 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. PREDICTION: STAYING

Magglio Ordonez: 37-year old righty swinging outfielder Magglio Ordonez played in 92 games for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 84 for 329 (.255 avg, .634 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers, 32 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Ordonez is a Jim Leyland favorite, but he just can’t seem to stay healthy. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Brad Penny: 33-year old righty starting pitcher Brad Penny pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 11-11 with a 5.30 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. The Tigers are likely going to give one of their youngsters the #5 job in the rotation in 2011. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Jose Valverde: 33-year old righty reliever Jose Valverde pitched in 75 games (0 starts) for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 2-4 with 49 saves, a 2.24 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He only gave up 52 hits in 72 1/3 innings last year, proving that he still has it. The Tigers hold a $9 million dollar club option on Valverde for 2012. PREDICTION: STAYING

Joel Zumaya: 26-year old righty reliever Joel Zumaya didn’t pitch at all in 2011 due to injury. He has pitched in 171 games (0 starts) in his six years with the Tigers and he is 13-12 with 5 saves, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He wants to stay. PREDICTION: LEAVING

The Detroit Tigers won the A.L. Central in 2011 with a 95-67 record, which had them 15 games in front of the 2nd place Cleveland Indians. The Tigers went on to kick the Yankees out of the playoffs before falling in six games to the Rangers in the A.L.C.S. Here are the things that stuck out in my mind about the Tigers in 2011:

TEAM MVP: 28-year old righty swinging 1B Miguel Cabrera was a beast in 2011. He played in 161 games for the Tigers last year and he was 197 for 572 (.344 avg, 1.033 OPS) with 111 runs scored, 30 homers, 105 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Teams were pitching around Cabrera in 2011, so he was more than happy to walk to 1B 108 times while whiffing only 89 times. Cabrera added a batting title in the American League to his trophy chest.

BEST PITCHER: 28-year old righty starting pitcher Justin Verlander was the best pitcher in baseball in 2011. He pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Verlander only gave up 174 hits and 57 walks in 2011, while whiffing 250 batters in 251 innings….and those are impressive numbers. He is almost a lock to win the Cy Young Award in the A.L. this year.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 25-year old righty reliever Al Alburquerque came out of nowhere for the Tigers in 2011. He pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Tigers in 2011 and he was 6-1 with a 1.87 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He only gave up 21 hits while whiffing 67 batters in only 43 1/3 innings for the Tigers in 2011, and that is impressive.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 34-year old righty swinging 3B Brandon Inge played in 102 games for the Tigers last year and he was 53 for 269 (.197 avg, .548 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 3 homers, 23 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Inge was sent to the minors for a while in 2011.

The Texas Rangers dropped 9 runs on the Tigers in the third inning and it essentially ended the competitive part of the game last night. Miguel Cabrera came to play last night as he was 2 for 4 with 2 solo homers. Austin Jackson (2 for 4 with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs), Victor Martinez (3 for 4) and Jhonny Peralta (1 for 4 with a solo homer) also had solid games for the Tigers with the bat. Max Scherzer earned the loss by working 2 1/3 innings in which he allowed 5 hits, 6 runs (all earned), whiffed 1 batter and walked 4. Daniel Schlereth didn’t get anyone out but he gave up 1 hit and 1 earned run last night. Rick Porcello also brought in a gas can last night as he worked 1/3 of an inning in which he allowed 2 hits, 2 runs (both earned) and he walked 1 batter. Ryan Perry stopped the bleeding for a little bit as he worked 2 1/3 innings in which he allowed 2 hits and 1 unearned run. Brad Penny then brought in the gas can as he worked 1 2/3 innings allowing 7 hits, 5 runs (all earned), walked 2 batters and he whiffed 1. Al Alburquerque worked the last 1 1/3 innings in this game and he walked 1 batter and gave up no runs while whiffing 2 batters. The Tigers’ season is now over as the Rangers took them 4-2 in this series.

The Detroit Tigers were on the tightrope at the end of the game last night but they prevailed. Delmon Young led the way for the Tigers last night as he was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 3 RBIs. Ryan Raburn (2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI) and Alex Avila (1 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI) each added solo homers in this game for the Tigers. Ramon Santiago (2 for 3), Miguel Cabrera (1 for 2 with 1 run scored, a double, stolen base and a RBI) and Victor Martinez (1 for 4 with 1 run scored, 1 triple and 1 RBI) also pitched in with the bats for the Tigers yesterday. The Tigers were without Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde last night, so Justin Verlander decided to pitch late into the game to save the pen. He worked the first 7 1/3 innings allowing 8 hits, 4 runs (all earned), walking three batters and whiffing 8 to earn the win for the Tigers. Lefty Phil Coke earned the save, but it wasn’t an easy one. He pitched 1 2/3 innings for the Tigers last night in which he gave up 2 hits and 1 run (it was earned) and got the save. The Tigers are now down 3-2 and it sends the series back to Texas.