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.

27-year old righty swinging 1B Miguel Cabrera finished 2nd in the voting for the A.L. MVP Award. Cabrera played in 150 games for the Tigers last season and he was 180 of 548 (.328 avg, 1.042 OPS) with 111 runs scored, 38 homers, 126 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,190 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 1,400 of 4,469 (.313 avg, .939 OPS) with 741 runs scored, 247 homers, 879 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Eventually Cabrera is going to win a MVP Award because he’s just that good.

25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brennan Boesch finished tied for fifth in the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award voting with 27-year old catcher John Jaso of the Rays and 23-year old lefty starting pitcher Brian Matusz of the Orioles. Boesch played in 133 games for the Tigers last season and he was 119 of 464 (.256 avg, .736 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 14 homers, 67 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Boesch started his career out super hot but the second time around the league the pitchers adjusted to him. Boesch will have to re-adjust to what pitchers are doing to him if he wants to be a starting OF for the Tigers in 2011.

23-year old righty swinging CF Austin Jackson finished 2nd in the voting for the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award finishing only behind closer Neftali Feliz of the Rangers. Jackson played in 151 games for the Tigers last season and he was 181 of 618 (.293 avg, .745 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 4 homers, 41 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. The only weakness that Jackson has is that he whiffs too much. He led the A.L. with 170 whiffs last season. If he doesn’t cut down on the strikeouts I see his batting average starting to fall. Regardless of the strikeouts, Jackson had a great rookie year.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Justin Verlander finished tied for 11th with the Twins’ Francisco Liriano in the voting for the A.L. Cy Young Award. Verlander started 33 games for the Tigers last season and he was 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has now started 165 games in his first six years with the Tigers and he is 83-52 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Verlander has the stuff to win a couple of Cy Young Awards in his career but it will be up to him.