According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Padres have signed reliever Jose Valverde. It’s presumably a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Valverde, who turns 37 in March, posted a 5.66 ERA and 23/10 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings with the Mets last season before being released in late May. It’s easy to forget this, but he actually served as New York’s closer for a stretch after Bobby Parnell’s Tommy John surgery and went 2-for-4 in save opportunities. The Mets turned to Jenrry Mejia after Valverde’s release and the bullpen actually became a strength as the year moved along.

Valverde is unlikely to be trusted with a late-inning role again, but the Padres are at least willing to see if he has anything left in the tank.

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