Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 2418
Location: Gold Canyon
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:43 pm Post subject: Valverde avoids arbitration with one-year, $2 million deal
Steve Gilbert tonight wrote:
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The D-backs have reached agreement with closer Jose Valverde on a one-year, $2 million contract.
"Jose couldn't be happier," said Bill Rego, Valverde's agent and president of RSM Sports Management. "He loves living in Phoenix and is very happy being part of the Diamondbacks."
Valverde, who made $359,000 last year, was 2-3 with a 5.84 ERA in 44 games. He began the season as the D-backs closer and was dominant for the first six weeks of the season as he compiled 14 saves in his first 15 opportunities.
After blowing back-to-back saves in late May, he was removed from the closer's position and was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on July 3, where he remained until being recalled on Aug. 14.
Upon his return, Valverde seemed to recapture his early season, form and he finished August with a 1.80 ERA and followed that up with a 2.08 ERA in September and October.
That stretch was good enough to win back his job as closer, and he converted five of six saves down the stretch.
"Going into Spring Training, he's our closer," D-backs manager Bob Melvin said earlier this offseason.
According to Rego, the $2 million salary is the largest ever for a player that had been optioned to the Minors at some point during the previous season.
"Peter Woodfork was extremely fair in recognizing the value that Jose brings," Rego said, referring to the D-backs assistant GM who is widely respected throughout the industry for his work on contracts. "We worked hard to get this done."
The D-backs now have four players eligible for salary arbitration: pitchers Doug Davis and Brandon Lyon, second baseman Orlando Hudson and outfielder Eric Byrnes. Salary-arbitration figures are set to be filed on Tuesday.
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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