DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Jose Valverde, who is expected back with the team Wednesday.

And Manager Jim Leyland said Valverde will be Detroit’s closer immediately.

Valverde was the Tigers’ closer the last three years, but the team was prepared to let him leave as a free agent after he faltered during the 2012 postseason. But he never signed elsewhere, and Detroit brought him back on a minor league deal.

n Bruce Rondon was recalled from Triple-A Toledo when the Tigers put reliever Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list.

MARINERS: Seattle placed outfielder Franklin Gutierrez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Outfielder Carlos Peguero was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take his spot on the roster.

BRAVES: Right fielder Jason Heyward was placed on the 15-day disabled list after an appendectomy.

The team said late Monday that Heyward had surgery at Rose Medical Center in Denver.

DODGERS: Pitcher Chad Billingsley will have Tommy John surgery this week and miss the rest of the season.

REDS: Reliever Jonathan Broxton had no problems with his pitching hand a day after a line drive knocked him out of the game.

Broxton said the ball hit him by the pinkie, causing the hand to go numb for several minutes. He had good movement a day later and thought he could pitch, although Manager Dusty Baker wanted to be cautious.

NATIONALS: Washington claimed left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno off waivers from the Houston Astros and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse.

Cedeno was designated for assignment by the Astros last week. He had an 11.37 ERA in five appearances this season for Houston.

 

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