DETROIT — Once the Tigers took Jose Valverde out of the closer’s role, there was no real point in having him on the big league roster.

Once they removed him from the big-league roster, sending him to the minors to work out his issues, there was no real point in having him under contract if he was not, in fact, a viable big-league option.

In the most inevitable move of the year, the Detroit Tigers gave Valverde — who saved 119 games for them in parts of four seasons — his unconditional release on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Valverde had been at Triple-A Toledo since June 27, six days after he was removed from the closer’s role, and optioned out, and eight days after his final appearance on the mound, when he gave up four earned runs in the ninth inning of a 13-3 loss.

Valverde saved seven games for the Mud Hens, but posted a 4.09 ERA, and a walks-hits-to-innings-pitched (WHIP) ratio of 1.82.

The one-time lockdown closer for the Tigers, who went 49-for-49 in save opportunities in 2011, lost his job in the 2012 postseason, and was not initially re-signed by the club. He returned to the organization on an incentive-laden minor-league deal on April 4, and was added to the big-league club 20 days later. He saved six of his first seven save chances this season, posting an 0.75 ERA through 11 outings, before sliding in his final eight, finishing with a 5.59 ERA and three blown saves.

JOSE VALVERDE LINKS:

• Tigers unconditionally release Jose Valverde

• Rondon recalled to Detroit, leaving Mud Hens closer role for Valverde

• Valverde accepts assignment to Triple-A, will stay in Tigers organization

• Jose Valverde experiment is over for Tigers, at least at big-league level

• Jose Valverde doesn't understand the infatuation with his splitter

• Valverde blows first save of season, Tigers lose in extra innings

• COLUMN: Too early to tell if return of Valverde is placebo effect, or a real cure

• Phil Coke discusses Valverde's return on Sirius XM Radio

• Valverde picks up save in season debut for Tigers

• Valverde back in his same old comfortable spot, his same old comfortable role

• Valverde back as Detroit Tigers closer

• REPORT: Jose Valverde appears to be headed north, while Mud Hens have flown south

• Valverde puts together three scoreless appearances for Lakeland

• Valverde with no hits ... and a hit

• Valverde pitches scoreless inning in extended spring game

• Leyland on Valverde: 'I'm really happy for him. I'm happy for us'

• Tigers sign Valverde to minor league deal

• Rondon's struggles leave closer door open, but Tigers say Valverde's not walking through it

• Tigers' closer question persists: If not Valverde, who? Depends on whose advice they take

• After trial and failure, will Jose Valverde ever pitch for Tigers again? 'You never know'

• WS PREVIEW: Is fixed-up Valverde the closer? Maybe yes, maybe no

• Daily update on Jose Valverde's status and mindset

• Coke assumes Valverde's role for time being

• Valverde still dancing on knife's edge