Tigers Sign SP Framber Valdez
One of the last remaining top free agent starting pitchers is off the market. Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that LHP Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a three-year, $115 million deal. The deal includes deferrals and an opt-out after the second year, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Valdez recently met with Tigers manager AJ Hinch, who Valdez knew well from his time in the Astros organization. Heyman also reports that Valdez will receive a $20 million signing bonus.
With this deal, Valdez secured the highest AAV for a left-handed pitcher and a Latin American pitcher.
Valdez, 32, posted a 3.66 ERA in 2025 with the Astros in 31 starts. He went 13-11 in 192 innings pitched, struck out 187 and walked 68 batters. His 4.0 fWAR ranked 11th best amongst qualified starters in 2025. The southpaw, who debuted with Houston in 2018, is a two-time All-Star and World Series Champion. He owns a career 3.36 ERA through 1080.2 innings pitched, striking out 1,053 batters in 188 MLB games.
His 0.70 HR/9 rate in 2025 was seventh-best in 2025, better than new teammate and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (0.83).
The Mets were linked to Valdez throughout the offseason, but nothing ever came to fruition. Instead, they struck a deal in the trade market, acquiring Freddy Peralta and his $8 million 2026 salary from the Milwaukee Brewers. Along with the Mets, Baltimore was heavily in the mix for Valdez.
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