The Los Angeles Angels have taken plenty of heat over the years for their reluctance to invest heavily in starting pitching. It's been a recurring theme-big bats, marquee names, but a rotation that too often leaves fans wondering what might’ve been. But in the case of Framber Valdez, the Angels’ decision to sit this one out might actually be one of their smarter moves in recent memory.
Let’s start with the facts: Valdez is headed to Detroit after signing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $38 million. That’s a hefty price tag, especially for a pitcher who didn’t crack the top 10 in fWAR last season.
And while Valdez has certainly shown flashes of being a frontline starter, the numbers suggest this isn’t a slam-dunk ace contract. It’s a high-risk, high-cost move-and one that doesn’t quite fit where the Angels are right now.
General manager Perry Minasian has shown a willingness to be opportunistic in the past, swooping in when markets shift or when a player’s price drops unexpectedly. But there was little indication that he had the green light from owner Arte Moreno to make a serious push for Valdez. And frankly, given the terms of the deal, that might’ve been a blessing in disguise.
A $38 million AAV is eyebrow-raising on its own, but it becomes even more so when you consider the context. Take Max Fried, for example-a lefty who outperformed Valdez last season and is earning $6.5 million less per year on a deal that runs through 2032.
That kind of long-term stability at a lower annual cost is the kind of value teams dream about when they’re building out a rotation. By comparison, Valdez’s deal looks like a short-term bet with long-term financial strain potential.
And let’s be real: this isn’t the kind of move the Angels should be making right now. This is a team in transition, one that’s likely a year or two away from truly contending again.
Giving out a high-dollar contract with an opt-out after 2026 is the kind of aggressive push a team like the Tigers can justify-they’re closer to the postseason picture and looking to solidify their rotation to make a run. For the Angels, who are still piecing together their next core, this kind of deal would’ve been more of a splash than a solution.
Sure, adding Valdez would’ve made the Angels more competitive in the short term. He would’ve brought stability to a rotation that needs it, and his presence alone might’ve made the AL West just a bit more interesting.
But that doesn’t mean it would’ve been worth the price tag. Not when you're still building from the ground up.
Not when there are more cost-effective options out there-like Zac Gallen, who could offer similar upside at a fraction of the cost.
Bottom line: the Angels didn’t land Framber Valdez, and that’s okay. In fact, it might be exactly the kind of disciplined decision they need more of during this rebuild.
There’s still a long way to go in Anaheim, but passing on this deal? That’s a step in the right direction.