January 13, 2009
Green for Valverde
Jose Valverde and the Houston Astros avoid arbitration with an $8 million contract.
Valverde, 30, who will be a free agent at the end of this season, led the National League in saves for a second year in a row with a club record-tying 44 in 2008. He was 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in a career-high 74 appearances.
Jose provided a great example in 2008 of the danger of small sample sizes. He got off to a terrible start with Houston after coming over from the Diamondbacks. I remember being interviewed on a talk radio station in Houston, and the Astros fans wanted him gone. He turned his season around just fine, giving up just six home runs the rest of the way after allowing four in his first two weeks. Now he gets a nice payday for his efforts.