NEW YORK, NY — Framber Valdez, the Tiger.
The 32-year-old southpaw, hailing from Palenque, Dominican Republic, the most-talented pitcher remaining on the free agent market, reportedly agreed to a three-year/$115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers Wednesday night, included with a player option after the 2027 season.
As ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first on the news, Valdez’s average annual value (AAV) on his newly signed deal of $38.33 million marks the highest-ever for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history, surpassing Blake Snell’s $36.4 million AAV, which Snell signed a year ago around this time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reports surfaced on Wednesday night of Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers agreeing to terms on a three-year/$115 million contract – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
With that as well, Valdez’s AAV is the highest-ever for a Latin American pitcher in the game.
Debuting in 2018 with the Astros and taking off on the scene steadily but surely ever since, Valdez, posting a 3.36 career-ERA across eight seasons with a 81-52 record and 1,053 strikeouts, helped Houston win the 2022 World Series and appear in the postseason each year during his tenure besides 2025.
Throughout his time in H-Town, establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in the sport, he earned two All-Star nods and recorded a no-hitter in August of 2023—the 16th no-no in Astros franchise history out of 17 overall.
What Detroit is getting in their nine-figure free agent signing is a durable frontline starter to pair alongside two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Arguably the best pairing to headline a starting rotation in all of MLB in 2026.
In each of the last four seasons dating back to 2022, Valdez has made a minimum of 28 starts and pitched 176+ innings, while fanning 169 or more opposing hitters.
2022: 17-6 in 31 starts with a 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 194 strikeouts
2023: 12-11 in 31 starts with a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 200 strikeouts
2024: 15-7 in 28 starts with a 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 169 strikeouts
2025: 13-11 in 31 starts with a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 187 strikeouts
Furthermore, Valdez is arriving in Detroit with a familiar face at the helm as Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch was the Astros skipper from 2015-2019.
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