Framber Valdez Lands in Detroit: Tigers Bet Big on Durable Lefty with $115M Deal
After months of anticipation and a free-agent market that moved in fits and starts, Framber Valdez has finally found his next home. The veteran left-hander is heading to the Detroit Tigers on a three-year, $115 million deal, with an opt-out after the second season. It’s a bold move by Detroit - and one that signals the club is ready to accelerate its climb back into contention.
Valdez was one of the top arms available this winter, ranked No. 5 on several big boards and projected by some to command a deal nearly twice as long. But instead of chasing a seven-year mega-contract, the 32-year-old southpaw opted for a shorter-term commitment with big annual value and future flexibility. The Tigers, in turn, will forfeit a draft pick after Valdez declined Houston’s $22.025 million qualifying offer back in November.
So why did Detroit make this move? Because in an era where dependable starting pitching is becoming increasingly rare, Valdez is as close to a sure thing as you’ll find.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2020, Valdez has logged 973 innings with a 3.23 ERA - a mark that ranks among the best in the game over that stretch. Only four pitchers have thrown more innings during that time, and among them, only Zack Wheeler has posted a lower ERA. That’s elite company.
And it’s not just the volume - it’s the consistency. Valdez has topped 190 innings in three of the last four seasons, including a 201 1/3-inning campaign in 2022 that earned him a fifth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting.
He’s made just two trips to the injured list in his eight-year MLB career. In short: he takes the ball, he eats innings, and he gives his team a chance to win.
But what really separates Valdez is the way he pitches. His game is built around a heavy, sinking fastball that generates ground balls at a staggering rate - 61.5% since 2020, the highest among qualified starters.
That’s not just good; that’s game-changing. Especially in today’s launch-angle era, where keeping the ball on the ground is one of the best ways to limit damage.
Complementing the sinker is a biting curveball - the pitch that first put him on the map - and a changeup that’s become a weapon against right-handers. The result?
A pitcher who’s not just hard to square up, but hard to lift at all. His 0.70 home runs allowed per nine innings since 2020 is the fourth-lowest in baseball.
That’s a nightmare for opposing hitters and a dream for a Tigers team that’s been looking for a true top-of-the-rotation presence.
Valdez isn’t just a regular-season workhorse, either. He’s pitched in some of the biggest moments October has to offer, tossing 85 postseason innings with a 4.24 ERA.
His most memorable outing came in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series, when he delivered six innings of one-run ball to help the Astros clinch the title. That kind of poise under pressure doesn’t show up in box scores, but it matters - especially for a young Tigers team looking to grow into a playoff contender.
Now, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Valdez has had to work hard on the mental side of the game.
Early in his career, emotional control was a challenge - something he addressed with the help of Astros sports psychologist Dr. Andy Nuñez.
Those efforts paid off, with Valdez showing visible growth in how he handled adversity on the mound. Still, there have been moments - like the much-discussed incident last August involving catcher César Salazar - that stirred controversy.
While both players downplayed the situation, it sparked questions about Valdez’s temperament just as he was approaching free agency.
But inside the clubhouse, Valdez commands respect. Astros manager Joe Espada put it plainly: “Framber Valdez is well respected in our clubhouse.
He’s got a ton of friends. His work ethic is impeccable.
He’s strong as a bull. He posts every day and wants the ball.
He’s someone I want to go on the battlefield with.”
That’s the kind of endorsement that carries weight - and it’s likely the kind of presence Detroit is banking on as they hand him the keys to their rotation.
With this move, the Tigers aren’t just adding innings or a strong left arm. They’re adding a tone-setter. A guy who’s been through the wars, who knows what it takes to pitch deep into October, and who still has the stuff to dominate when he’s locked in.
If Valdez continues to pitch the way he has over the past four seasons, Detroit just landed an ace - and maybe even more than that.