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The Mets have been named among the favorites to sign Framber Valdez.
After a disappointing 2025 season that saw them miss the playoffs, the New York Mets have responded by having a big offseason. The Mets most notably signed star infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract, and he is expected to be a massive part of their roster moving forward.
The Mets also made a big splash with their pitching rotation, as they acquired Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. They also brought in several other notable players, including Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, and Luke Weaver.
With how busy the Mets have been, they are expecting to put together a big bounce-back season during the 2026 campaign. However, could they look to end their winter with one more big splash? When looking at their roster, it is fair to argue that they could use one more star pitcher as they look to be legitimate contenders in 2026.
Due to this, the Mets are now being viewed among the favorites for the top free agent starter pitcher left on the market.
Mets Named Among Favorites for Star Free Agent Pitcher Framber Valdez
In a recent article for MLB.com, Mark Feinsand discussed a handful of teams that could still end up signing star free agent pitcher Framber Valdez. Without much surprise, the Mets were brought up as one of the favorites in the Valdez sweepstakes.
“Mets have also been closely connected to Valdez all offseason, though their recent trade for Peralta has lessened their need for a frontline starter. Still, given McLean’s inexperience and the fact that Holmes is only in his second season as a starter, New York could look to add another proven arm to the rotation. President of baseball operations David Stearns has never been one to give long-term deals to starting pitchers, but if Valdez becomes open to a short-term deal with opt-outs, he could become an appealing option for the Mets,” Feinsaid wrote.
When looking at the Mets’ current roster, it is entirely understandable that they are still being viewed as a prime potential landing spot for Valdez. If the Mets signed him, he would greatly improve the front half of their rotation and give them another legitimate star pitcher to work with.
Furthermore, as Feinsand noted, the Mets have been linked to Valdez throughout this winter. With the 32-year-old still being on the board, the Mets still have a chance to bring him in and make their strong offseason even better.
Mets Are Not the Only Team Linked to Valdez
With Valdez being the best pitcher still available for the taking in free agency, it is no secret that he has been generating plenty of interest. The Baltimore Orioles are the club that has been the most connected to him, alongside the Mets. Furthermore, Feinsand also mentioned the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves as potential landing spots for the eight-year veteran.
With this, there is no question that the Mets have competition when it comes to Valdez. It will be intriguing to see if they can successfully sign him from here.
Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa
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