Tigers Agree to $115M Deal with Pitcher Framber Valdez

Framber Valdez, a left-handed starting pitcher who spent the last several years with the Houston Astros, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Detroit Tigers worth $115 million. The deal, reached this week, gives Valdez an average of about $38 million per year, the highest ever for a left-handed pitcher. The Tigers have not yet made an official announcement, but people close to the talks say the agreement is done.

Background

Valdez built his career step by step in Houston. The Astros signed him in 2015 from the Dominican Republic when he was 21 years old. Scouts spotted him during a quick tryout under car headlights in his hometown. They liked his curveball right away, which has stayed his best pitch. Over his career, more than 60% of his strikeouts come from that curveball paired with his sinker.

He moved up through the minors without much fanfare. People wondered if his 5-foot-11 height would let him handle a full-time starting role. In his first couple of years in the majors, from 2018 to 2019, he had a 4.60 ERA over 34 games. Things changed in 2020. With Gerrit Cole gone and Justin Verlander hurt, Valdez stepped up as Houston's main starter. He posted a 3.23 ERA over 973 innings since then, mixing strikeouts with lots of ground balls.

His peak came in 2022. That year, he led the American League with 201 1/3 innings pitched and had a 2.82 ERA. He struck out 194 batters and finished fifth in Cy Young voting. In the playoffs, he had a 1.44 ERA over four starts, helping the Astros win the World Series. He made All-Star teams in 2022 and 2023. Last year, in 2025, he started 30 games for the third time in four years. He worked 192 innings with 187 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA. The Astros offered him a one-year qualifying offer of $22 million, which he turned down to hit free agency.

Over the past six years, only four pitchers threw more innings than Valdez. His ERA+ of 128 ranks eighth among starters with at least 100 games in that time. He has thrown eight complete games since 2022 and made 16 playoff starts. Houston will get a draft pick as compensation because he rejected their offer.

Key Details

The contract runs for three seasons and totals $115 million. It has an opt-out clause after the second year, letting Valdez become a free agent again if he chooses. There is also some deferred money in the deal, spread out over time. This average annual value tops any previous deal for a lefty starter.

Valdez's Pitching Style

Valdez relies on ground balls and his curveball. He gets batters to hit the ball on the ground often, which helps limit home runs. His sinker moves down and in, setting up the curve. In big games, he stays calm and goes deep into games. Last season, he had a strong first half with a 2.75 ERA but struggled after the break at 5.20. Still, his full-year numbers showed his usual reliability.

"Framber gives us a guy who can eat innings and handle October pressure," said a Tigers official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Tigers see him as a key addition to their rotation. Detroit has been building up its pitching staff. They have Tarik Skubal, who could pair with Valdez as a strong one-two punch at the top. Skubal and the team are in salary arbitration talks right now. Fans wonder if this signing means they plan to keep both or maybe trade one.

Valdez becomes the top-rated starter from this free agency class to sign. Other teams showed interest, but Detroit moved fast to lock him up. The deal fits their push to compete now after recent playoff runs.

What This Means

For the Tigers, Valdez fills a top rotation spot with a proven hand. He brings experience from deep playoff runs, including a World Series title. Detroit reached the playoffs last year and wants to go further. Pairing him with Skubal gives them two lefties who can handle heavy workloads. The team has young hitters coming together, so strong starting pitching could make them contenders in the AL Central.

Valdez gets security for three years with a chance to hit free agency early if he performs. At 32 years old now, he can build value and chase another ring. The short term suits both sides. Detroit avoids a long commitment, while Valdez bets on himself.

Houston loses a workhorse after years of service. They drafted well with the compensation pick coming. For baseball overall, this shows teams value pitchers who last deep into games. In an era of injuries, Valdez's durability stands out. He has made 30 starts three times recently and led the league in innings once.

Fans in Detroit are excited. Social media buzzes with talk of a Skubal-Valdez duo. Some wonder about catcher Dillon Dingler and how he fits. Others point out rivals like the Orioles missed out. The Tigers' front office has spent big this offseason to build a winner. This move puts them in the conversation for the playoffs and beyond.

Valdez's path from a late signing in the Dominican Republic to this payday shows persistence pays off. He never fit the typical prospect mold but proved himself on the field. Now he heads to a team ready to win. The rotation looks deeper, and the path to October feels clearer for Detroit.