Are we talking about Framber Valdez?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Seeing reports that the Mets are likely to sign the Astros pitcher for six years, $200 million.

Not sure I like this one.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This seems to be coming from MLB Insider Hector Gomez, whom I've never heard of. I found his X account and apparently he's the brother of Mets coach Gilbert Gomez.

I'm not sure how much credit to give to this report. I'll take it with a grain of salt until and unless it's confirmed elsewhere.

[metirish]

This guy has the funky delivery?

[Gwreck]

Valdez is the best starting pitcher available in free agency this year. He turned 32 ten days ago.

Over the past 5 seasons he's got the best groundball rate and third-lowest homer rate of any pitcher with 500+ innings. Strikeout rate of >8 per 9 innings.

Obviously he's significantly better than any of the established starting pitchers the Mets have on the roster now and they could really use him. As for the years/money, that only really matters if it unduly hampers the Mets from also filling all the other holes they need to address. If this is where they are using a lot of cash, perhaps it means that some of the lineup holes (outfield, 1B, DH) will be addressed via trade rather than free agency.

[Edgy MD]

Framber Valdez has never sold a lot of posters, maybe, but he has stayed healthy year in and year out, averaged 192 innings the last four seasons, and has never really had a bad season since he became a full-time starter.

All the same is kinda true, but to a lesser extent, about Ranger Suarez, for what that is worth.

Reliable may be just what the team needs, as long as you don't get too shocked when banking on it falters.

[The Hot Corner]

Valdez would be a solid addition to the Mets rotation. The length of the deal and the amount of money for a starting pitcher seems out of character for Stearns, based upon his track record.

[smg58]

I'm not sure I like six years, but he's the best pitcher on the market and would make the 2026 Mets significantly better.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd be glad to see the Mets give him a six-year deal. It would likely be bad on the back end, but sometimes that's what you have to do.

[Cowtipper]

I'll believe it when I see it. The Mets MO is usually to sign good players who haven't had an actual good year in two or three seasons, not while they're still actually good.

[Edgy MD]

That really is not the Mets' MO.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Juan Soto is a significant counter example.

[Cowtipper]

usually

 

^^

[metirish]

Per @JonHeyman, the Mets are "among the teams" who have met with free agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez. Heyman reports that the Giants and Orioles have also met with Valdez:

"The Mets would do long deals for star pitchers in occasional circumstances (they offered $325 million for Yoshinobu Yamamoto) but generally prefer to avoid them."

https://sny.tv/articles/mets-free-agency-and-trade-buzz-2025-26

[Gwreck]

Thoughts:

-Long contracts for starting pitchers always have to assume some sort of injury/problem somewhere along the line. (The Scherzer signing by Washington is the unicorn).

-That doesn’t mean you refuse to sign such players; you just have to go in eyes-open about that risk.

-Signing a starter to a long-term deals doesn’t inhibit the development and promotion of young talent the way a mainstay at a position in the batting order might. (I still think that’s generally an overrated concern, but it’s a non-concern given the size of pitching staffs these days)

-It’s just money, and it’s not my money. Signing Valdez now makes the team better now and is more likely than not to make the team better for several more years. 5 years from now, if they really need to, they can release him rather than keeping him on the roster.

-I don’t expect the Mets to sign Valdez. But I also didn’t expect a lot of the moves/non-moves so far this offseason and it’s totally unclear what the plan is/if there is a plan at all.

I was spending a whole boatload of money on a free agent pitcher, I’d probably prefer Skubal after next season (who will then be 2 years younger than Valdez is now). But that doesn’t help a team with a prime Lindor and Soto year right now, and needs pitching right now. So I guess you have to sign them both?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd be glad to see the Mets give him a six-year deal. It would likely be bad on the back end, but sometimes that's what you have to do.

 

A month later I still feel this way. I hope they sign him.

[smg58]

Something tells me that if Valdez were being offered something comparable to what Cease got, he would have already taken it.

[ashie62]

In what world does Framber Valdez get 200 million to possibly shuttle between the mound and the IL?

This one I guess

Wouldn't it make better sense to see MacLean Sproat and Tong as "newly acquired" for 2026 and save some powder?

I understand these young guys are risky also

[Cowtipper]

He'd be a good signing. Not a superstar, but a solid piece. Valdez-Peterson-Holmes kind of gives me a 2024 feel...three good-very good pitchers anchoring the rotation a la Manaea, Severino and Quintana. Valdez, however, is a bit better than those three.

[Edgy MD]

In what world does Framber Valdez get 200 million to possibly shuttle between the mound and the IL?

 

Aren't they all destined "to possibly shuttle between the mound and the IL"?

As noted above, Valdez has been healthier and more reliable than most.

The good thing about going after pitching is that you almost never have to worry about a significant investment blocking coming talent, because you need so many of them and spaces are always opening up.

The bad thing about going after pitching is ... you need so many of them and spaces are always opening up.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Framber is still out there. Just bumping this thread in case any news breaks.

[MFS62]

From Yahoo Sports:

The 32-year-old left-handed starter (Valdez) is the only player in the top 10 of our free-agent rankings who has yet to sign. Valdez, who started 166 games for Houston over the past eight years, drew a torrent of criticism last season when he was alleged to have intentionally thrown a pitch at his catcher's face during a game in retaliation for a pitch-calling miscommunication. That incident became a huge story, and the consensus a round the sport right now is that it’s having an adverse effect on Valdez’s free-agent market.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/5-questions-before-spring-training-where-will-framber-valdez-sign-will-brendan-donovan-be-traded-221659734.html

Later

[Fman99]

Hard to believe that in today's political climate a guy who sounds like a jerk can't get his $200 million.

[Frayed Knot]

His brother Exxon had a lousy personal rep as well.

Guess it runs in the family.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Sounds like he is headed to the Tigers on a three-year deal.

So, does this mean the Tigers are more open to trading Skubal?

[Gwreck]

I view it as the Tigers looking to make a push one more time before Skubal leaves in free agency. Weak division and Skubal - Valdez - Flaherty is a very credible playoff rotation.

[metirish]

Terms

BREAKING: Star left-hander Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a three-year, $115 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Valdez, 32, gets the highest AAV ever for a left-handed pitcher as well as the highest for a Latin American pitcher. Huge move for Detroit.

Passan

[smg58]

I'd have much sooner gone for Valdez at three years than given up two top 100 prospects for one year of Peralta.

[Edgy MD]

Agreed, most certainly. Although we don't know that Valdez was biting at that a month ago.

[The Hot Corner]

I view it as the Tigers looking to make a push one more time before Skubal leaves in free agency. Weak division and Skubal - Valdez - Flaherty is a very credible playoff rotation.

 

That is my take. If the Tigers find themselves not doing well in late July, then they could look to move Skubal at the trade deadline to a contending team.