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(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
So far, the offseason has been a quiet one for the Los Angeles Angels. When it comes to their starting rotation, there are still more questions than answers. They have added some arms to the bullpen, but they could use another starter.
So far, they acquired Grayson Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles. In exchange, the Angels sent outfielder Tyalor Ward to Baltimore. Los Angeles is taking a chance with once-promising right-hander Alek Manoah. They could use another starter, and one MLB writer linked the top remaining free agent, Framber Valdez, to the Angels to solidify their rotation.
Los Angeles Angels Urged to Sign Left-Hander Framber Valdez
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report listed a realistic option for each team in free agency, with spring training just a month away. Miller linked Valdez to the Angels to be their No. 1 starter. Is it realistic? Probably not, but Valdez does remain unsigned.
“The Angels were another one of the four teams to allow at least 5.0 runs per game in 2025, this despite respectable seasons out of Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano atop the rotation. They acquired the oft-injured Grayson Rodriguez in the Taylor Ward trade, but even if he’s good to go, they need more. And they’ve yet to do anything of note since freeing up a fair amount of 2026 money by restructuring Anthony Rendon’s contract in that buyout. Could this be where LHP Framber Valdez ends up?,” asked Miller.
Los Angeles has had an up close look at Valdez for the last eight years, with his time with the Houston Astros. In 2025, he went 13-11 in 31 starts with a 3.66 ERA and a 3.8 WAR with 187 strikeouts in 192 innings. In 2024, Valdez won 15 games, and in 2022, he won 17. Signing him away from Houston would be huge for the Angels.
Can Angels Meet Framber Valdez’s Asking Price?
On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez, and they came out of nowhere to do it. Could the Angels do that with Valdez? If they do, it would be more surprising than the Red Sox signing Suarez.
Ryan Finklestein of Just Baseball predicted a five-year, $160 million contract for Valdez. Is that something Los Angeles would do? Finklestein linked the New York Mets with Valdez, and that was his prediction for where he was going to end up. Again, who saw the Red Sox coming out of nowhere to sign Suarez? Anything is possible.
The Angels have been falling behind in the American League West. The Astros have been the team to beat over the years, but they were overtaken by the Seattle Mariners last season. A September collapse not only cost Houston the division, but also a wild-card spot in the American League.
That leaves the Angels in the same breath right now as the Texas Rangers and Athletics. That’s not a spot they want to be in. Seattle has gotten better this offseason, and the Astros are retooling on the fly. The Rangers have made some big changes, and the Athletics are still stuck in the middle of nowhere. Adding Valdez would be a statement addition, and one out of nowhere like Boston did with Suarez.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
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