The Detroit Tigers made headlines this week with their blockbuster signing of Framber Valdez - a move that, at first glance, looked like a bold splash for a team trying to level up. But with the latest update on right-hander Reese Olson’s shoulder, that signing is starting to look less like luxury and more like necessity.
Let’s break it down.
Olson’s Uncertain Status Shifts the Narrative
Reese Olson hasn’t pitched in a game since last July due to lingering shoulder issues, and while he resumed throwing in December, there’s a big difference between playing catch and being ready to take the mound every fifth day in a big-league rotation. Shoulders are tricky - especially for pitchers - and timelines rarely cooperate.
Olson showed real promise when healthy. A 3.15 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 2023, along with consistent strike-throwing, put him firmly in the “reliable starter” conversation. But he’s never made more than 22 appearances in a season, and that durability question looms large as Detroit eyes contention in 2026.
So when news broke that Olson might not be ready for Opening Day, it didn’t just sting - it reframed the entire offseason.
Enter Framber Valdez: The Steadying Force
Valdez, now the highest-paid left-handed pitcher in terms of annual salary, isn’t just a frontline arm - he’s a rotation anchor. The kind of guy who takes the ball every fifth day and gives you innings. And that matters, especially when you’re suddenly staring down the start of the season without one of your key young arms.
Without Valdez, the Tigers would’ve been looking at a rotation stretched thin, possibly leaning too hard on unproven arms or overtaxing the bullpen in April - a dangerous formula that can quietly derail a season before it really gets going.
But with Valdez in the fold, the script flips. Now, Detroit can manage Olson’s recovery without rushing him back.
They can slot in someone like Troy Melton at the back end of the rotation - not as a savior, but as a bridge. And they can do it behind a top-end duo of Valdez and Tarik Skubal, which brings a whole different level of stability.
Depth Is the Name of the Game
This isn’t about replacing Skubal or questioning Olson’s long-term value. It’s about building a rotation that can handle the grind of a 162-game season - and the inevitable bumps along the way.
The Tigers didn’t sign Valdez just to make headlines. They signed him to protect their investment in this roster, to give themselves margin for error.
In today’s MLB, depth isn’t a bonus - it’s a requirement. Teams that survive the marathon are the ones that can absorb injuries without imploding. And when your young starter is dealing with a shoulder that hasn’t quite bounced back, having a proven innings-eater like Valdez suddenly becomes the difference between treading water and staying afloat.
Looking Ahead
Spring training will bring more clarity on Olson’s status, but one thing’s already clear: the Tigers didn’t just add a top-tier arm - they added insurance. They gave themselves breathing room. And in a season where expectations are starting to rise, that kind of foresight could make all the difference.
Framber Valdez may have been the Tigers’ biggest offseason swing. But given the current outlook, he might also be their most important safety net.