Tigers exercised RHP Octavio Dotel's $3.5 million club option for 2013.

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News anticipates Octavio Dotel taking over the Tigers' closer job from the struggling Jose Valverde.

Manager Jim Leyland said after Valverde's latest blowup Saturday that he and the coaches "haven't really made any decisions," but they would "put our heads together and discuss it first, and get together as a coaching staff and talk about it." Other options to replace Valverde include Joaquin Benoit and Al Alburquerque. Leyland will address the topic later Sunday.

Octavio Dotel (biceps) threw a scoreless inning in his return to action Sunday against the Twins.

Dotel hadn't pitched since leaving Friday's game with mild biceps soreness. It was never considered serious.

Octavio Dotel returned to action on Sunday September 30.

Octavio Dotel (biceps) is not expected to miss any time after leaving Friday's game against the Twins.

Initial reports were that the injury could be significant, but Dotel is apparently fine and won't require an extended absence. The veteran reliever has a 3.70 ERA and 62/12 K/BB ratio over 56 innings this season.

Octavio Dotel left Friday's game against the Twins with a sore right biceps muscle.

Dotel tossed a scoreless inning before exiting. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after the game that he's concerned, so there's a chance he could require a lengthy absence. The veteran reliever has a 3.70 ERA and 62/12 K/BB ratio over 56 innings this year.

Tigers activated RHP Octavio Dotel from the 15-day disabled list.

Dotel hasn't pitched since June 2 while suffering from right elbow inflammation. Detroit kept him on the active roster for 10 days before finally placing him on the disabled list a week ago. He's now ready to return to game action and will return to his setup role.

Tigers placed RHP Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 3, with right elbow inflammation.

Dotel hasn't pitched since June 2, so the Tigers couldn't go short-handed in their bullpen any longer. It's not clear if he'll be ready when he's first eligible. Luke Putkonen has been called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace him on the active roster.

Octavio Dotel (elbow) is unavailable Sunday.

Dotel hasn't pitched since June 2, when his right elbow inflammation flared up. His absence has wreaked a bit of havoc on Detroit's bullpen. If his prognosis doesn't improve in the next 24 hours or so, the disabled list appears likely.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the team is hopeful Octavio Dotel will be available Saturday.

Dotel hasn't pitched since last week due to inflammation in his right elbow. He received treatment and threw a side session Wednesday, but reportedly experienced discomfort. It's sounds like a day-to-day situation, and the Tigers have no plans to place him on the disabled list. "We're doing everything we need to do to get it straight," Dotel said. "We're just going to see in the next couple days how the inflammation goes."

Trying to close in place of the resting Jose Valverde, Octavio Dotel was charged with a blown save and a loss Monday against the Mariners.

The Tigers were up 2-0 when Dotel took over to start the ninth. He walked the first two hitters he faced and then advanced the baserunners with a wild pitch. After a passed ball scored the first run, Jesus Montero doubled to tie it. Duane Below took over at that point and allowed the winning run to score on a sac bunt and then a sac fly. Dotel probably isn't looking at any additional save chances in the near future.

Octavio Dotel returned to action Friday and pitched a perfect inning against the White Sox.

Dotel wasn't available Thursday due to back stiffness.

Octavio Dotel was unavailable Thursday after his back stiffened up while sleeping.

He should be good to go in the next day or two. Dotel has struck out four over two scoreless innings of relief this season.

Tigers signed RHP Octavio Dotel to a one-year contract with a club option for 2013.

The deal is believed to be worth between $3-3.5 million. The 38-year-old right-hander posted a 3.50 ERA and 62/17 K/BB ratio over 54 frames between Toronto and St. Louis this past season. He'll help set up for Jose Valverde.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports that Octavio Dotel will earn around $3.5 million in his new contract with the Tigers.

Dotel will reportedly receive a one-year deal with an option for 2013. The 38-year-old right-hander posted a 3.50 ERA and 62/17 K/BB ratio over 54 frames between Toronto and St. Louis this past season. He'll function as a set-up man for the defending AL Champions in 2012.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports that the Tigers and Octavio Dotel have agreed to a one-year deal with an option for 2013.

Exact terms aren't yet available. Dotel, 38, posted a 3.50 ERA and 62/17 K/BB ratio over 54 innings this past season between the Blue Jays and Cardinals. He'll function as a set-up man for Jose Valverde in 2012.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that Octavio Dotel's potential deal with the Tigers is expected to be for one year and include an option.

The financials of the deal aren't known yet, but it appears that it's merely about dotting the i's and crossing the t's at this point. Dotel held a 3.50 ERA and 62/17 K/BB ratio over 54 frames this past season. The 38-year-old will help set up for closer Jose Valverde.

Danny Kobler of CBSSports.com reports that the Tigers are "closing in" on free agent reliever Octavio Dotel.

Dotel was down to the Tigers and Cardinals, and although he appeared to prefer to stay in St. Louis, it sounds like Detroit simply offered him more money. The 38-year-old held a 3.50 ERA and 62/17 K/BB ratio over 54 frames this past season. He'll help set up for closer Jose Valverde.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that free agent reliever Octavio Dotel has narrowed his choices to the Tigers and Cardinals.

Strauss agrees with others that say the Tigers are the favorites, but he says Dotel "remains enamored" with St. Louis. Perhaps if Albert Pujols, who developed a friendship with Dotel during the reliever's time with the Cardinals, re-signs, that might be enough to tip the scales in the Cards' favor. The Tigers are likely offering the 38-year-old more money.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Tigers are the favorites to land free agent reliever Octavio Dotel.

Rosenthal notes that a National League team is still in the running, which makes since given that the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers have been viewed as the other competitors for his services. It sounds like he might be headed to Motown to help set up for Jose Valverde, though.