Free agent pitcher Framber Valdez has reached an agreement to join the Detroit Tigers on a three-year contract worth $115 million, according to an anonymous source who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night ahead of the official announcement.
Valdez, known for his durability as a starter with the Houston Astros, will bolster the Tigers’ pitching rotation alongside their two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, Casey Mize. Meanwhile, fellow left-hander Tarik Skubal recently went through a salary arbitration hearing where he requested $32 million, but the Tigers offered $19 million.
A two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion, Valdez emerged as Houston’s ace last season, finishing with a 13-11 record and a 3.66 ERA before entering free agency for the first time. Over 192 innings, he struck out 187 batters and walked 68, while also leading the majors with 12 wild pitches. He had previously signed an $18 million contract to avoid arbitration last offseason and started Houston’s Opening Day games for the past four years.
Since debuting in the majors with Houston in 2018, the 32-year-old Dominican pitcher has accumulated an 81-52 record with a 3.36 ERA, consistently logging over 191 innings per season like Giants pitcher Logan Webb. In 2024, he posted a 15-7 record with a stellar 2.91 ERA across 28 games. Valdez also threw a no-hitter in 2023 and earned his second consecutive All-Star selection. His postseason experience includes 17 games started, going 8-4 with a 4.34 ERA.
Valdez played a vital role in two World Series appearances with Houston and was the winning pitcher in the clinching Game 6 of the 2022 championship against the Philadelphia Phillies. In that series, he went 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA over two starts, amassing 18 strikeouts in just over 12 innings. However, his 2023 postseason performance was less effective, allowing 10 runs in under five innings against Atlanta.
Valdez declined a qualifying offer of $22,025,000. If his deal with Detroit is finalized, the Astros will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round of the 2026 amateur draft but will lose their third-highest pick as a result.
One of Valdez’s career highlights was his no-hitter against Cleveland on August 1, 2023. A year later, he nearly repeated the feat in a game against Texas, only to be denied when Corey Seager hit a home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
An unusual incident last season involved Valdez denying an intentional hit on catcher Cesar Salazar after giving up a grand slam and then delivering a pitch that struck Salazar’s chest protector. This happened during a game the Astros lost 7-1 to the New York Yankees on September 2. Astros manager Joe Espada later confirmed the situation was fully resolved and emphasized a renewed focus on the game.
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Fan Take: This signing is significant because Valdez’s consistent excellence and postseason experience bring immediate star power and stability to the Tigers’ pitching staff. For baseball fans, his move signals a competitive boost in the American League Central and adds intrigue to the evolving landscape of free-agent pitching in the sport.
