The baseball world is holding its breath as one of the most coveted free agents, Framber Valdez, remains unsigned. But here's the million-dollar question: Which team will finally secure his talents? Valdez, a standout in the pitching class, is arguably the last big name available this offseason, alongside Zac Gallen, both of whom declined qualifying offers. These two, along with Eugenio Suárez, were among MLBTR’s Top 20 free agents entering the winter, yet their fates remain undecided.
Suárez’s age limited his market to shorter deals, while Gallen’s recent performance dip makes him a candidate for a pillow contract with an opt-out. Valdez, however, entered the offseason as the undisputed top pitcher available. Despite a middling second half and a bizarre incident with catcher César Salazar that raised eyebrows, his stats speak for themselves: a 3.66 ERA, a 23.3% strikeout rate, and a whopping 58.6% grounder percentage over 192 innings. This marks his sixth consecutive year with a sub-4.00 ERA, a testament to his consistency. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Valdez’s age (32) a red flag for teams considering long-term deals?
While a six-year contract seems unlikely, a five-year deal appears more plausible, with four years being the minimum. Interestingly, there’s been little buzz about Valdez’s market or whether his camp is eyeing shorter deals with opt-outs as Spring Training looms. Clearly, Valdez hasn’t found an offer that meets his expectations, yet he remains the last top-tier starter likely to switch teams this offseason.
The trade market has been equally quiet, with names like Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Shane Baz off the table. Dylan Cease quickly landed a seven-year deal with the Blue Jays, and NPB righty Tatsuya Imai failed to attract top-rotation interest. Valdez, however, stands out as the remaining free agent with the highest upside, surpassing even Gallen, Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and Justin Verlander.
The Orioles have been most frequently linked to Valdez, given their need for a top-end starter and president of baseball operations Mike Elias’s history with the left-hander from their Houston days. Baltimore has already made significant moves, acquiring Baz and signing Pete Alonso to a $155MM deal, but adding Valdez’s $30MM+ annual salary would push them into uncharted territory. And this is the part most people miss: Could the Orioles’ aggressive offseason spending backfire, or is it a bold move toward contention?
The Mets, Blue Jays, and Red Sox have also met with Valdez, though they’ve since added Peralta, Cease, and Ranger Suárez, respectively. The Astros seem uninterested in a reunion, and the Giants, despite meeting with Valdez, have downplayed long-term commitments. So, where does this leave Valdez? Will Baltimore or San Francisco make a late push, or will a mystery team swoop in?
As the offseason drags on, the question remains: Who will sign Framber Valdez? Is his age a deal-breaker, or will a team take the leap for a proven ace? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Valdez’s value is being overlooked, or are teams right to be cautious?
