Framber Valdez Signs with Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers have signed pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year contract worth $115 million. The agreement includes an opt-out clause after the second season and a $20 million signing bonus, with some deferred money.
Impact on Tigers' Rotation
Valdez will rejoin manager A.J. Hinch and bolster the Tigers' starting rotation, slotting alongside Tarik Skubal.
The projected rotation also includes Reese Olson, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. This move positions Drew Anderson in a swing role and Troy Melton for bullpen or Triple-A assignment.
Tarik Skubal's arbitration hearing for his final year of club control is ongoing, with a decision expected tomorrow determining his salary at either $19 million or $32 million. The acquisition of Valdez is an independent decision.
Tigers' Strategic Investment
This signing represents a significant investment for the Tigers, following an offseason characterized by more conservative moves. Prior acquisitions included retaining Jack Flaherty on a player option, Gleyber Torres via a qualifying offer, Kyle Finnegan on a two-year deal, and Drew Anderson and Kenley Jansen on one-year contracts.
This marks the team's first nine-figure investment since a previous deal under former General Manager Al Avila.
Valdez's Career Performance
Valdez, a two-time All-Star, has finished in the top 10 for Cy Young Award voting in three of the last four seasons. He debuted in MLB with the Astros in 2018, initially in a swing role under Hinch, before becoming a permanent rotation member in 2020. Since then, he has maintained a sub-4.00 earned run average each season and has demonstrated durability, with only two stints on the injured list (a fractured finger in 2021 and elbow inflammation in 2024).
From 2020, Valdez ranks fifth in innings pitched (973) and 14th in starts, with a cumulative 3.23 ERA.
He achieved sub-3.00 ERAs in 2022 and 2024. His performance was consistent until the latter half of his contract year, where he recorded a 6.05 ERA and a reduced 17.7% strikeout rate over his final 10 starts, experiencing a slight dip in sinker velocity.
Market Factors and Contract Details
In September, Valdez was involved in an incident where he hit catcher César Salazar with a pitch. Valdez denied it was intentional and apologized, while Salazar publicly downplayed the event.
Factors influencing his free agency duration included a late-season decline in production and his age. Valdez, who turned 32 in November, completed the previous year with a 3.66 ERA over 192 innings, featuring a 23.3% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk percentage. His pitching relies on a high ground-ball rate, with a career mark of 62% and 58.6% last season.
The contract's reported average annual value of $38.33 million ranks among the highest, though the net present value will be lower due to deferred money. The Tigers' competitive balance tax payroll, which was $188 million last season, is estimated to be around $237 million this year, pending Skubal's arbitration outcome and the final deferral details for Valdez.