Jose Valverde is back with the Detroit Tigers.

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers fans learned the identity of their new closer Tuesday night. It's the same as their old closer.

Papa Grande is back.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski announced Tuesday night that Jose Valverde will be added to the roster Wednesday prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals.

There's no question as to what role he will be placed in. Tigers manager Jim Leyland was asked whether Valverde would pitch Wednesday night if the Tigers found themselves in a save situation.

"He would," Leyland said matter-of-factly.

The Tigers sent Brayan Villarreal to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Valverde on the active roster and will make a corresponding move Wednesday to make room for Valverde on the 40-man roster.

Surprised that Valverde is back? You probably should be. The Tigers expressed no interest in re-signing him following the 2012 season and took him back earlier this month only after he and agent Scott Boras agreed that Valverde would sign a minor-league contract with no major-league guarantees.

The Tigers had until May 8 to kick the tires. Obviously, they didn't need that long. They clearly believe they are getting the 2010-11 version of Valverde and not the 2012 model. Valverde turned into a one-pitch pitcher at times last season even before his postseason implosion. But he's been throwing the ball "extremely well," according to Dombrowski.

"One scout said it's the best he's ever seen him throw the ball," Leyland said, "as far as velocity and coming out of his hand."

Dombrowski admitted that he was surprised at how fast the process worked, but he said the reason it moved at such a fast pace is because Valverde proved himself worthy.

"He's throwing the ball very well," Dombrowski said. "He's thrown it consistently well for us. He's throwing the ball 93 to 95, 96 on a pretty consistent basis, in fact a consistent basis. He has thrown the split finger. He's in real good shape. His arm's good. He's been throwing the ball for us better than what he threw the ball last year."

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