Framber Valdez should have been wined, dined and extolled at a lavish press conference, signed to a contract with enough zeroes to assure lifetime wealth and picking out furniture for his new home.
Instead, less than one week before the start of spring training, he sits unemployed.
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Valdez, 32, the two-time All-Star who has averaged 30 starts a year the past four seasons, with Cy Young votes in three of them, was arguably the best pitcher on the free-agent market.
He was projected to be the highest-paid player this winter outside his former Houston Astros teammate, Kyle Tucker. Yet, three full months have come and gone, and Valdez continues to wait with questions abound throughout the game.
Framber Valdez remains unsigned a week before camps open.
Is he asking for too much money? Are teams concerned about the wear and tear on his arm, pitching 809 innings in the regular season and postseason the past four years?
Do they wonder whether Valdez intentionally hit his own catcher, Cesar Salazar, in the chest with a 93-mph fastball out of frustration in September after giving up a grand slam against the New York Yankees?
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Whatever the reason, or if it’s simply a matter of a slow developing market for free agent pitchers, Valdez is easily the best player remaining on the market.
With time running out, in a survey of scouts, executives and agents, here are their predictions for the top six candidates to sign Valdez:
The Orioles remain the heavy favorite to sign Valdez, and could turn a fabulous winter into a spectacular one. And let’s face it, if they’re going to have a real chance to bounce back and win the AL East, they need another front-line starter.
Valdez would give them a formidable rotation with Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin already in the mix. And remember, they were aggressive in the bidding for Ranger Suarez before he signed a five-year, $130 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.
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The Orioles are clearly the team to beat in the Valdez sweepstakes, executives believe.
The Orioles’ biggest threat to signing Valdez is the Blue Jays. They’ve had perhaps the best winter of any team in baseball, spending $337 million to give them every chance for a return trip to the World Series. So why not push it closer to $500 million?
If they signed Valdez, they will have locked up the top two starters on the market, having already signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. They would be even further flush with starters with Valdez, Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios. Considering that Gausman and Bieber are free agents after the 2026 season, the signing of Valdez makes perfect sense.
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Besides, if they had $350 million to sign Kyle Tucker before he went to the Dodgers, why not give up a chunk of that to Valdez?
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 6, 2025: The Phillie Phanatic interacts with Philadelphia Phillies service dog Tugger during a break in action against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 6, 2025: The Phillie Phanatic interacts with Philadelphia Phillies service dog Tugger during a break in action against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
April 7, 2025: Jackie Hornung and her Samoyed dog, Lumi (also known as Little Bear Lumi), throw a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
April 6, 2025: A dog is seen at the game between the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 3, 2024: Fans bring their dogs during the Bark in the Park night prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 28, 2024: Decoy, the dog of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, waits for instruction before delivering the first pitch before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 28, 2024: A dog gets close to the camera during the Bark at the Park event before the Colorado Rockies’ game against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 28, 2024: Television actress Caitlin O’Connor holds her dog Bubbles on the field prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 24, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood (left) and manager Mark Kotsay (right) pet Reba, the Oakland Athletics’ clubhouse dog, in the dugout before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 12, 2024: Dogs walk on the warning track for Bark in the Park day before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 2, 2024: Fans and their dogs walk the field during a pup parade during Pups in the Park day prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 2, 2024: Fans and their dogs walk the field during a pup parade during Pups in the Park day prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
May 9, 2024: A dog takes the ball from Milwaukee Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry following a first pitch prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Bark at the Park night at American Family Field.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
May 5, 2024: Oakland Athletics infielder Max Schuemann shares a moment with Reba, the Oakland Athletics’ clubhouse dog, before a game against the Miami Marlins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
April 16, 2024: Chase Field, Arizona
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March 31, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood’s dog Reba plays with a baseball on the field before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
March 29, 2024: Oakland Athletics groundskeeper Clay Wood and his dog rake the infield before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
March 29, 2024: A dog dressed in New York Mets apparel sits in front of Citi Field before the Opening Day game between the Mets and Milwaukee Brewers.
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Oct. 8, 2023: Camden Yards
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June 7, 2023: Great American Ball Park.
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June 7, 2023: Great American Ball Park.
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May 19, 2023: Citi Field (Mets)
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May 9, 2023: Great American Ball Park
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April 11, 2023: Citi Field
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Sept. 28, 2022: Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (Oklahoma CIty Dodgers)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 5, 2022: Dodger Stadium
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 5, 2022: A dachshund gives a Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw doll a ride around the field during the Pups at the Park Parade at Dodger Stadium.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 5, 2022: Dodger Stadium
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 5, 2022: Dodger Stadium
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 16, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Brooks, a 2-year-old Dalmatian owned by Sarah Paukert of Ames, enjoys the action during the Dog Days at Principal Park as the Iowa Cubs hosted Columbus in a minor league baseball game on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Des Moines.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 7, 2022: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter throws out a first pitch for his dog on Bark at the Park night prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field. Suter wrote a children’s book “The Binky Bandit” inspired by his mini golden doodle.
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June 4, 2022: Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 4, 2022: Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
May 9, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati)
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April 19, 2022: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 28, 2021: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)
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Sept. 3, 2020; Minute Maid Park (Astros)
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Aug. 10, 2020: Dodger Stadium
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Aug 7, 2020: Dodger Stadium
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Aug. 2, 2020: Kauffman Stadium (Royals)
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Sept. 10, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox).
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Sept. 8, 2019: Marlins Park
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Aug. 13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)
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Aug. 13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
July 16, 2019: Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress pets his dog.
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
July 16, 2019: Josh Hader shows fans his dog at Miller Park.
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July 7, 2019: Oracle Park (Giants)
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July 7, 2019: Oracle Park (Giants)
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June 21, 2019: Oakland Coliseum (Athletics)
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June 21, 2019: Oakland Coliseum (Athletics)
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June 17, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds).
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June 4, 2019: Petco Park (Padres)
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June 4, 2019: Petco Park (Padres)
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June 4, 2019: Petco Park (Padres)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
May 29, 2019: Camden Yards (Orioles)
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May 14, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
May 14, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds).
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
April 29, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
March 6, 2019: Salt River Fields (Rockies spring training)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Feb. 21, 2019: Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe with his dog on media day
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Sept. 24, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)
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May 30, 2018: Kauffman Stadium (Royals)
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Sept. 16, 2018: Tropicana Field (Rays)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept 12, 2018: Camden Yards (Orioles)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 12, 2018: Camden Yards (Orioles)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Sept. 2, 2018: Minute Maid Park (Astros)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
Aug. 22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 19, 2018: Petco Park (Padres)
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Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games
June 19, 2018: Petco Park (Padres)
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May 30, 2018: Kauffman Stadium (Royals)
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May 20, 2018: SunTrust Park (Atlanta)
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May 5, 2018: Citi Field (Mets)
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April 23, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)
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Sept. 6, 2017: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)
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June 29, 2017: Petco Park (Padres)
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June 10, 2017: Tropicana Field (Rays)
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Aug. 20, 2016: Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
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Aug. 29, 2015: AT&T Park (Giants)
San Diego Padres
They haven’t done anything all winter besides bringing back Michael King and signing Korean infielder Sung-mun Song, and may have trouble enough keeping up with the San Francisco Giants – let alone the Dodgers. The signing of Valdez could save the offseason..
Financial constraints and an impending sale has handicapped them, but if Yu Darvish walks away from the $43 million he’s owed – including $16 million this season – the Padres could use it to find a creative way of bringing in Valdez. It would be similar to their deal a year ago with free agent Nick Pivetta when he was left stranded on the free agent market, giving him an opt-out after two seasons.
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The Padres are a longshot compared to the Orioles and Blue Jays chances, but with GM A.J. Preller at the helm, you can never rule anything out.
You want the Cubs’ fans to lose their minds after their fine winter? Go ahead and sign Valdez, giving them a team that could not only run win the NL Central, but peraps challenge the mighty Dodgers.
The Cubs, who already dropped $175 million with the Alex Bregman signing, would have a sensational rotation of Justin Steele (when he returns the second half), Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon in the mix for starts.
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The Cubs, who have been engaged in talks with fellow free agent Zac Gallen, will need another front-line starter in a year, anyways, with Boyd, Taillon and Imanaga all free agents after the 2026 season.
Can you imagine a rotation with Tarik Skubal and Valdez as your 1-2 punch? It would bring back memories when Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were leading their powerful rotation during their glory days.
While it may seem to be far-fetched, the Tigers have to face reality, too. They are not going to fork out $400 million and sign Skubal when he hits free agency in 10 months. They will have a gaping hole in the rotation. So why not be proactive and grab his replacement a year early? This would give them a rotation of Skubal, Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and Drew Anderson to start 2026.
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They would have the team built for a deep October run. Who says no?
We get it. If you can’t afford to keep Freddy Peralta, why turn around and spend money for Valdez? Yet, the Peralta trade was simply acknowledging they couldn’t keep him a year from now.
Considering the Brewers have spent only $1.25 million in free agency this winter, and the fans are loudly grumbling about losing Peralta. Why not get them feeling as if you’re giving away free beer and cheese curds at all home games?
The Brewers privately say they still are interested in signing a free-agent pitcher, they could shoot for the sunand leave the Cubs cursing under their breath.
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Framber Valdez news and rumors as top MLB free agent remains unsigned