By Miguel Mike Medina
Left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez got paid big time, and the team is the Detroit Tigers. Valdez and the Tigers agree on a three-year, $115 million deal.
The 32-year-old will get the highest AAV ever for a left-handed pitcher as well as the highest for a Latin American pitcher. Valdez spent his entire eight-year career with the Houston Astros. He finished the 2025 season posting a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 31 starts. He’s a workhorse who can pitch for many innings. Valdez pitched 192 innings last season.
Valdez sought a five-year deal, but the Tigers offered him a three-year contract. He’s not an explosive elite strikeout machine like Tarik Skubal, but he can make hitters hit ground balls and makes the game smooth for him.
What does this deal mean for Skubal?
Skubal is a two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. He’s one of the main reasons why the Tigers made the playoffs two seasons in a row. Many Tiger fans are upset because the front office should pay Skubal first. Signing Valdez might give the impression that he could be Skubal’s replacement.
Skubal is looking for a $32 million, but the Tigers counter with a $19 million. Scott Boras is Skubal’s agent, and he’s known for being aggressive and getting his clients high maximum contracts. With Valdez’s contract, players like Skubal and Paul Skenes will want more money, and it’s understandable, since they are better pitchers than Valdez.
Will the Tigers have two left-handed pitchers in their rotation at the start of the season? Will Skubal leave Detroit and get his money elsewhere?
If there’s a prediction to make, Skubal will most likely play for a big-market team like the New York Yankees. Mets owner Steve Cohen is not afraid to write a big check. So the Mets could be a high possibility for Skubal.
Valdez has been in the top 10 AL Cy Young voting for three seasons in a row (2022-2024). He became an All-Star and won the World Series in 2022 with the Astros.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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