The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying again. And their latest target is the biggest remaining name on the free-agent market – left-hander Framber Valdez.
Thwarted in numerous attempts to find additional offense, the Pirates have emerged as one of the most aggressive clubs on Valdez, according to people briefed on their pursuit.
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The signing of Valdez would enhance the Pirates’ biggest strength – their starting rotation, led by National League Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes. Bill Murphy, the Pirates’ new pitching coach, worked with Valdez for the vast majority of the pitcher’s professional career, as both a minor and major-league coach with the Houston Astros.
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The Pirates, however, again might prove to be little more than a stalking horse for a more competitive team willing to offer Valdez the type of short-term deal with opt-outs he seems likely to command.
The Baltimore Orioles have been linked to Valdez the entire offseason. The Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres continue to pursue starters. Other clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays, could enter the mix if Valdez’s price falls to a level they deem acceptable.
Of those clubs, the Braves would lose the highest draft pick for Valdez, who rejected a qualifying offer – No. 26 overall. The Pirates would sacrifice a pick that currently is 44th overall, and almost certainly would do it to land a pitcher of Valdez’s quality, even on a short-term deal. They already hold the fifth selection, and another that currently is 34th.
The Pirates continue to pursue offensive help, with designated hitter Marcell Ozuna among their latest targets, sources said. From Kyle Schwarber to Eugenio Suárez, they repeatedly have been repeatedly outmaneuvered for free agents this offseason, landing only first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn on a two-year, $29 million deal.
In their quest to improve the league’s worst offense, the Pirates earlier this offseason traded two starting pitchers – Johan Oviedo (for Jhostynxon Garcia) and Mike Burrows (for Brandon Lowe). Valdez would join a rotation that is projected to include Skenes and Mitch Keller plus two younger starters, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler.
Murphy, the Pirates’ new pitching coach, was with the Astros almost as long as Valdez. He joined the Houston organization in 2016, Valdez’s first in the United States after signing with the Astros out of the Dominican Republic.
17 comments
Framber and Ozuna would make me insanely confident in this team. Wow. Lets make it happen
This would actually make a ton of sense if they trade for a third baseman instead of signing one. Assuming they offered $15 mil for Suarez, they would’ve likely spent $10 mil on a lefty vet like Anderson or Quintana. Why not take those funds and offer Valdez $25 mil and trade more pitching for a third baseman?
I just don’t see it. We lost in a market that was us vs the Reds. If the O’s, Jays, Braves, and Padres have interest in him, he’s most likely to go to anywhere else but here.
This is gonna end up the same isn’t it. Or do we have actual advantages here where if we present a market level contract we might get him to sign.
I think it’s a little different for free agent pitchers than hitters.
Now this would be amazing, and this is also something that came up in that Pham comment recently. There was something with the humidor suppressing offense at PNC park. Aside that I’m attributing the offensive failures to the players, coaches, and organization. The question is if the success of their run prevention was potentially artificial. So there is potential that any improvements they make with scoring more runs is just offset in 2026 by allowing more runs.
So yes, they might need to add to maintain on that front.
i’m not getting my hopes up
but i will say that if i was to guess one pitcher who isn’t an ace that could put up ace numbers in PNC, it’s framber valdez.
i’m just a total sucker for a guy who gets a K per inning and a 50+% GB rate. a lefty who does that in PNC should be money.
No thanks. Valdez is an awful teammate. He legitimately tried to hurt his catcher. And Ozuna beats women. Hard pass
Valdez would be excellent because he would not only be the LHP they need, but he also could go deeper into games. This is going to be important as Chandler and Ashcraft are going to be on an innings limit, and the bullpen needs to be rested for those occasions.
Him for the rotation, bring back Cutch, and that’s a hella offseason.
Longer term, it could entice future free agents and undo some of the prior seasons’ inertia.
https://preview.redd.it/gxyt0jntmihg1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae84bb39bba251550393f5548cb918dfee95226a
There’s no more bats out there on the FA market that would significantly make this team better. Valdez would make this rotation top 3 in all of baseball no doubt.
If you make this move I don’t even think you’d necessarily have to upgrade at 3B. All you’d definitely need is another righty bat. And I don’t even think you’d need ozuna. Just bringing back cutch would be enough if you brought in Valdez.
“Trying” or maybe more “pretending.”
They’re not signing this guy.
Sounds like an agent using the Bucs to increase interest in their client.
Tbh this would be more shocking than them signing Schwarber. They weren’t really linked to any elite pitching so them doing this would be so Pirates/UnPiratesy like.
Signing Valdez and then trading for a 3B would be some high-order thinking – cant see it happening. Also, we would probably have to trade Keller to free up budget.
Btw Mackey just came out with an article that says it’s a long shot we sign him.
I doubt they would keep Keller and Valdez. But I’m doubting this a little bit as it feels more like the Schwarber thing with the agent trying to get other teams to up their offer.
And the pirates would give up their comp pick to sign him which I don’t really see them doing with it being in the 30s.