Framber Valdez to the Tigers, and the Pirates’ Familiar Role in the Background
Framber Valdez is headed to Detroit. Three years, $115 million, with deferrals and an opt-out after Year 2.
It’s a big-time deal for a big-time lefty - the kind of move that signals a team is serious about contending. And for Pittsburgh Pirates fans, it’s another reminder that their team is often part of the conversation, but rarely part of the conclusion.
Let’s rewind for a second. When Ken Rosenthal reported that the Pirates were showing interest in Valdez, the reaction from the Pittsburgh faithful wasn’t excitement.
It was recognition. Not because Valdez wouldn’t be a great fit - he would’ve been.
He’s a frontline starter with postseason experience and a connection to the Pirates’ new pitching coach. Slotting him into a rotation that’s already the strength of this roster?
That’s a move that makes baseball sense.
But Pirates fans have seen this movie before. And they know how it ends.
This wasn’t a bidding war. It wasn’t a late-night push to close the deal.
It wasn’t even a serious flirtation. It was a cameo.
The kind of interest that gets mentioned in a tweet or two, enough to show face, but never enough to make a splash. Once Valdez’s market started to take shape - with massive average annual values and the kind of financial commitment that makes agents smile - the Pirates’ role was clear.
They weren’t contenders. They were context.
You’ve seen this script. The Pirates are “in” on a big name.
The player signs elsewhere. And the takeaway isn’t heartbreak - it’s validation.
Fans weren’t dreaming of Valdez in black and gold. They were waiting for the headline confirming he’d signed with a team that’s willing to act like a contender.
That’s what makes this whole thing sting, not because Valdez chose Detroit, but because the Pirates’ involvement felt more like optics than opportunity. A gesture, not a plan.
And if we’re being honest, even the pursuit felt like a pivot. After striking out on multiple offensive targets this winter - and spending yet another offseason talking about fixing the lineup without actually doing it - Valdez became the biggest name left on the board.
So suddenly, the Pirates were “in.” Not because he addressed their most pressing need, but because he was still available.
This isn’t about blaming the front office for not matching a $115 million offer. That’s a steep price tag, and every team has its limits.
But what’s frustrating for fans is the consistency of the pattern. The Pirates don’t lose these battles in the final stretch.
They’re out of the race before it even begins.
And that’s the heart of it. It’s not about one player.
It’s about the feeling that every time the Pirates “take a big swing,” they never actually step into the box. They hover around the plate, maybe take a practice cut or two, but when the pitch comes in, they’re still adjusting their gloves.
So here we are again. Valdez is gone.
The Pirates are left with the same questions they had before his name was floated: Where’s the offensive help? Where’s the meaningful investment in a roster that’s shown flashes but needs more than flashes to compete?
The Pirates were “in” on Valdez the same way they’ve been “in” on plenty of big names this offseason - just enough to be mentioned, never enough to matter. And for a fanbase that’s been through this cycle too many times to count, it’s not shocking.
It’s just familiar. Painfully familiar.