As the MLB free agency period progresses, Framber Valdez still remains available as one of the top pitchers on the market. With him coming off a season in which he played well, but not fantastic, it has led to his market not being as strong as imagined.
*Prediction*
Still, plenty of teams are looking for pitching help to round out their rotations for 2026, and one team that could start to make sense to sign Framber Valdez is the Texas Rangers.
More MLB Content From TWSN:
Aaron Judge Needs to Request a Trade from the New York Yankees
Pittsburgh Pirates Will Trade Paul Skenes to the New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays Trading Addison Barger to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Framber Valdez Signs With the Texas Rangers in MLB Free Agency
The Texas Rangers have their ace in Jacob deGrom, and they also have Nathan Eovaldi, but they truly need another third starting-caliber pitcher at the top of their rotation if they are going to take strides with getting back on track as contenders in 2026.
With the market not shaping up for Framber Valdez like he may have thought, he could be more open to signing with the Texas Rangers on a shorter deal for the 2026 season.
Signing Framber Valdez would go a long way in helping the Rangers’ rotation for the 2026 season. Valdez is coming off a 2025 season in which he had a 3.66 ERA with 187 strikeouts, and while this is down from the typical production he had put up in past seasons, it is still productive for a pitcher in the middle of a rotation like he would be for the Rangers.
Over his entire career, Framber Valdez has provided the consistency with a 3.36 ERA, and 1,053 strikeouts. As Valdez enters his age 32 season with having eight years of experience, he can provide the depth and leadership that the Rangers need in their rotation. For Valdez, signing with the Rangers keeps him in Texas while also landing on a team that has the ability to be contenders.