Former Houston Astro left-hander Framber Valdez is still available in free agency and would be a great fit for the San Diego Padres.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in 10 days and yet, one of the best starting pitchers in Major League Baseball remains a free agent.
Two-Time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion left-hander Framber Valdez is still available, and he doesn’t appear to be close to signing within the coming days, but it’s not for a lack of suitors.
Several teams have expressed interest in the 32-year-old groundball specialist, with the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles tabbed as the favorites to land his services, though the Mets may be out of the running after trading for Freddy Peralta.
The Orioles seem like the most likely sweepstakes winner, but they still haven’t signed Valdez for whatever reason. Reports suggest that Valdez is looking for a long-term contract, in the range of five to six years worth $180 million, which is the most likely reason why he hasn’t signed anywhere.
Teams are probably more likely to bite on a shorter length deal with a higher average annual value and opt-outs, but it doesn’t seem like Valdez’s camp is eager to move off a long-term deal.
A team like the San Diego Padres not only needs starting pitching, they need a lefty in the starting rotation. Valdez would be a perfect complement to all the right-handers and slot in as the No. 1 or No. 2 starter instantly. The problem is that the Padres have been actively cutting payroll and aren’t spending like they usually do, so General Manager A.J. Preller would have to get crafty to get a deal done.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand listed the Padres as one of seven teams that would be a fit for Valdez but noted that San Diego would probably need to move a salary or two to make it work.
“The top of San Diego’s rotation is righty-heavy, making Valdez a good fit for the Padres. Whether San Diego can afford Valdez is another matter, though few executives are as creative as A.J. Preller, who could move another salary -- Pivetta or Jake Cronenworth, perhaps? -- if he is intent on adding Valdez,” Feinsand wrote Saturday.
“Yu Darvish is contemplating retirement, which could open up some payroll for the Padres if he walks away from the remainder of his contract.”
The decision to move someone like right-hander Nick Pivetta would be a difficult one to make. Pivetta was fantastic for the Padres in his first season with the club, going 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 31 starts. However, this was by far a career-year for the almost 33-year-old and his trade value is at its highest given how expensive starting pitching has become.
The Yu Darvish situation is weird and shouldn’t be a factor in the decision to sign Valdez as nobody knows when that decision will actually be made.
Valdez would be an awesome addition to a team desperately needing a frontline left-handed starter, but it isn’t the easiest pairing out of all the teams that are potential fits.