Framber Valdez is heading to Detroit - and he's doing it in record-setting fashion.
The left-hander signed a three-year, $115 million deal with the Tigers on Wednesday, putting an emphatic end to months of speculation about where the two-time All-Star would land. The contract isn’t just big - it’s historic. Valdez now holds the highest average annual value ever for a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball at $38.3 million per year.
That’s elite money for a pitcher who’s been performing at an elite level. Valdez was one of the most sought-after arms on the market, and for good reason.
He’s coming off a strong run with the Houston Astros, including a key role in their 2022 World Series title. His ability to eat innings, generate ground balls, and dominate with that heavy sinker made him a top target for multiple contenders.
While the Tigers ultimately landed him, they weren’t the only team in the mix. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles were widely discussed as frontrunners, but another name surfaced late - the Minnesota Twins.
According to reports, the Twins had also expressed interest in Valdez. That might raise some eyebrows, considering Minnesota hasn’t exactly been aggressive this offseason.
They’ve made smaller additions, bringing in Josh Bell to bolster the lineup and Victor Caratini to add depth behind the plate. They also avoided arbitration with Joe Ryan, their young ace.
But beyond that, it’s been a relatively quiet winter for the Twins.
It’s worth noting that Minnesota is coming off a fourth-place finish in the AL Central and a midseason fire sale that saw them move 10 players in just one week. A pursuit of Valdez would’ve signaled a significant shift in approach - from retooling to reloading.
Still, for Valdez, choosing Detroit means embracing a team that’s been on the outside looking in over the past two seasons. The Tigers haven’t sniffed the postseason in that time, but the addition of a frontline starter like Valdez shows they’re serious about changing that narrative. It’s a bold move, and one that could reshape the AL Central race.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are still awaiting an arbitration decision on Tarik Skubal, another key piece of their rotation. If they can lock him in alongside Valdez, Detroit suddenly has the makings of a formidable one-two punch at the top of their staff - and a clear signal that they’re done rebuilding and ready to compete.
For Valdez, this is a new chapter. He’s leaving behind a winning culture in Houston, but he’s bringing that pedigree with him.
And for the Tigers? They just made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason.