Rincon, with a biting slider to complement his fastball, was a fixture at the back end of the Twins' bullpen from 2002-2006. He had a career year in 2004, posting a 2.63 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 82 innings. He was cut by the Twins last season after refusing to accept a minor league assignment and caught on with the Indians.

He will be reunited with Rick Knapp in spring training. Knapp, his first minor league pitching coach in the Twins' organization, is Detroit's new pitching coach.

Rincon was suspended 10 days in May of 2005 for violating Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Arbitration avoided: The Tigers also on Tuesday announced the signing of four of their five remaining arbitration-eligible players. Pitchers Edwin Jackson, Joel Zumaya and Bobby Seay agreed to terms with the club, along with recently-acquired catcher Gerald Laird.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Justin Verlander is the lone remaining Tiger in that group who has yet to sign. Verlander still could sign prior to arbitration hearings, which take place beginning Feb. 1 in Phoenix. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski has not had a player go to arbitration while with Detroit.

Verlander and his representatives on Tuesday exchanged arbitration figures with the Tigers. Verlander, coming off a disappointing 11-17 season with a 4.84 ERA, made $1.13 million last year. He is asking for $4.15 million in arbitration, while Detroit is countering with $3.2 million.

Jackson, acquired from Tampa Bay after going 14-11 for the American League champions, went from $412,700 to $2.2 million in his 2009 contract. Laird, the new starting catcher who came from the Texas Rangers for two minor league pitchers, jumped from $1.6 million to $2.8 million.

Left-handed reliever Seay made $805,000 last year after incentive bonus money, and will get $1.3 million. Reliever Joel Zumaya, coming off an injury-plagued season, got a raise of $735,000 from $420,000.