Blue Jays, Orioles Target Free Agent Framber Valdez

Framber Valdez, the two-time All-Star left-handed starter and the top remaining free agent pitcher in Major League Baseball, is attracting interest from several contenders as spring training looms less than two weeks away. The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as a serious suitor, according to reports from New York Post reporters Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, joining the Baltimore Orioles and others in pursuit of the 32-year-old veteran.

Valdez, who spent his entire eight-year career with the Houston Astros, posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA over 192 innings in 31 starts during the 2025 season, striking out 187 batters and leading the league with two complete games. His durability stands out, having exceeded 175 innings in each of the past four seasons and averaging nearly one strikeout per inning throughout his career. Since 2021, Valdez has maintained a 3.20 ERA, earned Cy Young Award votes in three of the last four years, thrown a no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians in 2023, and secured a win in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series clincher. Analysts project his market value at around six years and $199 million, with an average annual salary of $33.3 million, though his...