(Associated Press photo)

The Detroit Tigers needed a closer.Jose Valverde needed a job.

Why didn’t this deal happen earlier?

Apparently, after seeing an ineffective Bruce Rondon this spring and Phil Coke blow a save, the Tigers went to Plan C — their former closer.

Valverde, 35, was signed to a minor league deal Thursday. The team has no timetable for Valverde to pitch on the major league roster.

I’m guessing it’ll be as soon as possible for a team that needs someone it can rely on to close games.

The Tigers are built to win now, and can’t afford on-the-job training.

Here’s a link to the Detroit Free Press story.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

The Detroit Tigers solidified their Opening Day roster this afternoon by optioning former Erie SeaWolves infielder Danny Worth to Triple-A Toledo. Worth was in a battle with Ramon Santiago for the final roster spot this week. Worth is a career .254 hitter in the minors and .244 on the major-league level. Worth split time in 2012 between Toledo and Detroit. He hit .216 in 43 games with the Tigers after hitting .264 in 60 games with the Mud Hens.

–Tom Reisenweber

Former Erie SeaWolves flamethrower Bruce Rondon entered spring training as the projected closer for the Detroit Tigers. After inconsistency and some rough outings, Rondon has been optioned to Class AAA Toledo for more development this season. Rondon finished spring training with a 5.84 ERA and his fastball was in the mid 90s against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday after clocking over 100 mph last year. Luis Marte, another former Erie SeaWolves reliever, was also sent to Toledo as the final pitching moves for the Tigers.

Detroit has 26 players on its roster, one over the limit, and will need to make one more cut before Opening Day. The final spot could come down to Danny Worth or Ramon Santiago, both of whom played in Erie in their careers.

Detroit’s closer situation isn’t pretty with Rondon in the minors. The Tigers will likely close by committee, including Octavio Dotel, Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal.

Click here for the complete story.

–Tom Reisenweber

8 days to go: Plenty of future major leaguers have stopped in Erie on their way to the bigs.

This season, prospect Tyler Collins could fit that bill.

Collins hit eight home runs in 2011 in the New York-Penn League after being drafted in the sixth round by the Tigers.

In 2011, the outfielder hit .313 in 168 at-bats.

Last season, Collins, rated the No. 7 prospect in the Tigers’ organization by Baseball America, had a .290-7-66 line in Lakeland.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

The Indians have tentatively set their 25-man roster, making some interesting choices ahead of the April 2 season opener at Toronto.

Scott Kazmir earned the fifth spot in the rotation, beating out Carlos Carrasco. However, Kazmir won’t be added until April 6 as Carrasco will stay with the team to serve a six-game suspension for a 2011 incident when he threw at Kansas City’s Billy Butler. Carrasco will be sent down to Triple-A Columbus on April 7.

Jason Giambi made the club in a bench role as DH, but he will start the season on the 15-day DL with a back injury, allowing the Indians to carry 13 pitchers. Former Erie SeaWolves and Detroit Tigers player Ryan Raburn (second base, third base, left field) also earned a bench spot. Raburn hit .359 this spring and beat out speedy Ezequiel Carrera for a bench spot.

Carrera and pitcher David Huff are out of options and will be traded or released. Also out are starter Daisuke Matsuzaka and reliever Matt Capps. Either or both could be signed for a minor league deal and start the year in Triple-A Columbus.

Here’s what the roster will look like for the opener:

CF Michael Bourn, LF Michael Brantley, 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, 1B/RF Nick Swisher, C Carlos Santana, 1B/DH Mark Reynolds, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, RF Drew Stubbs

Bench

2B/3B/SS Mike Aviles, 2B/3B/LF Ryan Raburn, C Lou Marson

Pitchers

Starters: Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Brett Myers, Zach McAllister and Carrasco (until Kazmir  is activated April 6)

Relievers: Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Matt Albers, Rich Hill and Nick Hagadone.

–Tony Battaglia

A bum right elbow has sidelined Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis for the past three games of spring training.

Manager Terry Francona says the injury shouldn’t keep Kipnis out of the Opening Day lineup. Of bigger concern is the slow start Kipnis has had at the plate in Cactus League games. He has hit .154 (6-for-39) with nine strikeouts in 15 games.

Kipnis isn’t overly concerned about his poor showing at the plate:

Being confident in myself, I know that I’ve done that in the past where I didn’t hit in spring, but I’ll come out of the gates on fire, or something like that.

Another injured Indian, closer Chris Perez, believes he will be in the lineup for the April 2 opener at Toronto.

Perez (right shoulder strain) on his recovery:

I’ll be there. The initial injury is gone. I’m 100 percent. Now it’s just trying to get my arm strength back to where I can make 60 or 70 appearances.

Perez was scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Saturday.

–Sportsonearth.com projects the Indians to finish second behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Check out the projection here.

–Veteran outfielder Brad Hawpe, attempting a comeback after Tommy John surgery, was released by the Pirates Saturday morning. Hawpe struggled at the plate, hitting .139 in 16 games.

–Tony Battaglia

14 days to go: Judging from the snow, it doesn’t look like baseball could be just two weeks away.

During the 2004 season, Curtis Granderson stole 14 bases for the Erie SeaWolves.

Granderson also hit 21 home runs and had a .303 average.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

15 days to go: Nick Castellanos, the No. 1 prospect in the Detroit Tigers’ system according to Baseball America, had 15 doubles for the Erie SeaWolves last season.

Castellanos was sent to minor-league camp earlier this week.

– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)

The Detroit Tigers made several moves on Tuesday morning, including sending prospect Nick Castellanos to minor league camp. Tyler Collins, Argenis Diaz and Trevor Bell were also sent to minor league camp and most of that group could start the season in Toledo. Hernan Perez was sent to Erie and Bryan Holaday, Duane Below and Jose Ortega were sent to Toledo.

Perez is a 6-foot 1-inch, 185-pound shortstop that Detroit signed as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2007. He spent 2012 in Lakeland and finished with a .261 average, including 11 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 44 RBIs, 50 runs and 27 stolen bases. Perez is ranked as the No. 13 prospect in the Tigers’ organization and did get a call-up with Detroit last season. He played in two games and went 1-of-2 with a run scored.

–Tom Reisenweber

18 days to go:  There are 18 former Erie SeaWolves on the Detroit Tigers’ 40-man roster.