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The Mets have been named among the favorites to sign Framber Valdez.
Among all the top free agents across MLB this free agency period, southpaw starter Framber Valdez has been very slow to develop. Valdez has been one of the top-two starters available since the beginning of the offseason, and remains the top option available. Reports indicate that the Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as a team interested in the two-time All-Star starter.
However, as slow as his free agency seems to be, it seems like things are starting to open up a bit. Some of the teams thought to have a chance to land Valdez include the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros (as of a Tuesday report), and now, the Blue Jays. So, where did the report come from?
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MLB Reporters Say Blue Jays Are Interested in Framber Valdez
In a recent development, Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post have learned that the Blue Jays are among ‘several’ other teams interested in the southpaw Valdez.
Both Heyman and Sherman have been on the ball all offseason in terms of roster moves and rumors, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see further reports linking Valdez to the Blue Jays. Most predictions have been naming mostly the Giants and Orioles, but with the latest Astros report, that could change.
GettyThe Mets have been named among the favorites to sign Framber Valdez.
Valdez has been a workhorse for the last four seasons, making 28+ starts in al those years, and having several seasons near 200 innings. In 2025, Framber pitched to the tune of a 3.66 ERA in 192 innings and struck out 187 hitters. He has steadily averaged near 1 strikeout per inning in his career, and is marveled because of his ability to keep the ball in the yard, and limit free passes.
However, an incident back in September may have left teams a bit cautious about his potential character, which has potentially led to the long delay in signing.
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What Is Framber Valdez’s Market Value?
There have been several media outlets trying to predict what Framber Valdez’s contract will be, as some predict it could be north of $200 million, but other reports say that, since it’s been a slow-developing free agency, Valdez could only receive a three or four-year deal. One that measure’s a player market value is Spotrac.
According to Spotrac, Framber Valdez is expected to earn a six-year deal worth $199 million and an AAV of $33.3 million.
Considering that the price tag is so high, it’s not surprising to see the Blue Jays being linked to Valdez, as they are one of the only teams that can realistically afford him, and Toronto might be looking to make one more big splash before spring training starts.
If the Blue Jays were to land Valdez, they would put a massive stamp on this offseason by signing the two most sought-after starters back in November (Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez)
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