You almost cannot talk about the free agent class without mentioning Framber Valdez. He is on a ton of teams’ lists, being arguably the best pitcher on the open market.
This market has already seen a big-time name come off the board when the Toronto Blue Jays came to terms with Dylan Cease earlier in the week. And with the MLB Winter Meetings approaching, more and more big names could come off the board.
Do not be surprised if much of the attention turns to Valdez. He is a dependable frontline starter who could be the ace for most clubs that he signs with.
Framber Valdez’s market projected to rival top free agent sluggers
Framber Valdez is coming off another solid season where he led the Houston Astros’ rotation. He started 31 games, compiling a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA and two complete games across 192 innings of work.
He has thrown for more than 192 innings in three of his last four seasons. With that kind of durability and the stuff he possesses in his repertoire, ESPN’s Jeff Passan believes his market will rival that of the top free agent sluggers.
“Arguably the best starter in the class, Valdez is often among the league leaders in innings with a playoff resume, and his market will unfold alongside the best hitters.”
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projects the lefty to receive a six-year, $168 million deal, which is nothing to sneeze at.
The New York Mets could be a team to watch out for here. They have a strong interest in bringing in a frontline starter to help bolster their rotation for the 2026 season.
Another team to keep an eye on is the Baltimore Orioles. They are also looking for a frontline starter, especially after parting ways with Grayson Rodriguez, and are looking to be heavy spenders this winter.
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