LAKELAND, Fla. — The winter’s top starting pitchers typically don’t have to wait until February to find a home.

But Framber Valdez, widely considered the best or second-best starter on the market, did just that, signing with the Detroit Tigers only a week before the start of camp.

“Honestly, the process seemed slow, but I didn’t get frustrated. I simply waited for the right moment and what was best for me, which was choosing this team,” Valdez said in Spanish on Wednesday during his introductory press conference. “I stayed calm, working and staying focused, waiting for the moment to be in a good position like I am now.”

At least one reason for his slow-moving market may have been his age. At 32, Valdez was entering free agency later than most front-line starters, which likely hurt his negotiating position.

Even so, The Athletic projected a seven-year, $196 million deal; ESPN went for six years, $168 million; and MLB Trade Rumors foresaw a five-year, $150 million contract.

Although he ultimately settled for a shorter-term deal, the contract is still expected to be worth roughly $105 million in present-day value once the deferred money is accounted for. In other words, he still did very well.

There’s even a chance he could end up banking more money overall with this shorter-term contract. If he pitches well, he can hit free agency again after the 2028 season (or after the 2027 season if he exercises his opt-out) and aim for another deal with a high annual value.

Aside from his age, the other issue that may have been on the minds of some teams was a high-profile incident last September in which Valdez and catcher César Salazar appeared to get crossed up on a pitch. Salazar was struck in the chest protector by an unexpected fastball from Valdez.

Such things happen from time to time, but two factors caused the incident to become a viral video in the baseball world. Valdez had just surrendered a grand slam and, rather than show concern after Salazar was hit, he appeared dismissive. That prompted speculation that it was intentional, something both players strongly denied.

Asked what people should know about the incident, Valdez said Wednesday: “I got crossed up with the catcher. It was not intentional. It happened in a moment of adrenaline, a tense moment.

“Salazar and I talked about it and we’re good, thank God. It was simply something that happened. I apologized to him because it was something accidental in the middle of the game. That’s simply what happened. It was not intentional. It was nothing personal.

“I feel good because everyone who knows me knows that it didn’t happen that way, and Salazar does too.”

Tigers catcher Jake Rogers, who caught Valdez in the minor leagues in the Astros system, said he’s not concerned about the incident.

“I’m sure it got blown out of proportion,” Rogers said. “But I’ve never had a problem with Framber. The times we had together were awesome, and I’ve never had one problem with Framber. He gets his blinders on, and when he gets on the mound, you don’t really mess with him. And that’s just kind of how he’s been his whole career.”