Framber Valdez is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher who signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He's spent his career with the Houston Astros, though he declined their qualifying offer to enter free agency.
It has been a relatively quiet few weeks for the Atlanta Braves following the reunion with closer Raisel Iglesias and acquisition of super utility man (and, perhaps, starting shortstop) Mauricio Dubon, but that does not mean Alex Anthopoulos isn't working on other additions.
Amongst the Mets' lengthy to-do list this winter is to address a starting rotation that needs a significant overhaul after last season's collapse. So anything linking former Houston Astros ace and free agent Framber Valdez to Queens would be understandable. According to MLB insider Hector Gomez, the Mets are trying to get a six-year, $200 million deal over the finish line for the veteran right-hander, who is coming off a down year in which he went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA.
On the surface, Valdez looks deserving of the large term and dollar amount he's likely to receive in free agency. The two-time All-Star ranks sixth among all starting pitchers in fWAR (20.6), fifth in innings pitched (973), tied for first in wins, and 10th in total strikeouts (951) since the start of the 2020 season as a member of the Houston Astros.
