Could the Mets land Astros ace Framber Valdez? He's projected to be the perfect veteran addition to bolster their rotation.
The New York Mets are trying to salvage their disappointing offseason by making a run at prized outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are the other two teams in the running for Tucker at this moment with a decision hopefully coming soon.
On the other hand, the Mets are still trying to add a pitcher to the rotation, and trade talks for San Diego Padres ace Nick Pivetta haven't gone anywhere lately.
The Mets were seen as an option for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez, but he signed a $130 million deal on Wednesday with the Boston Red Sox.
However, Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez is still available, and the Mets have been linked to him time and time again this offseason.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report had some predictions for some free agents, and he had the Mets as the best fit for Valdez.
"While Mets fans may still be hoping for a trade that nets them Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta, Valdez—who FanGraphs says is fifth among all starters in WAR since the start of the 2022 season—would give them a veteran arm to pair atop the rotation with NL Rookie of the Year favorite Nolan McLean. Valdez and McLean would be a great one-two punch, and perhaps alleviate some pressure on other arms who the Mets are hoping bounce back in 2026, such as Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea and David Peterson."
Adding Valdez to the rotation would be a strong boost for the Mets, and it would also allow them to be able to trade a young pitcher for another veteran, such as Pivetta, if the Mets decide to go that route.
"Of course, if the Mets add Valdez—and still have Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat also looming at Triple-A—they could consider a trade of one of those three veteran arms," Kelly wrote.
Valdez went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA and 187 strikeouts for the Astros in 2025, and the southpaw is arguably the best remaining pitcher left on the market.
Suarez got a five-year, $130 million deal from the Red Sox, so it would be a pretty penny to bring Valdez to town, not to mention the fact that the Mets are trying to shell out a massive chunk of cash for Kyle Tucker.
Still, there is a possibility Valdez goes to Queens in what would be a great move for the Mets.