HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 02: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros prepares for a game against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on September 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Shopping season is open in the Major League Baseball free agent marketplace.
Starting pitching remains a highly desired commodity by MLB front offices.
The old saying in baseball rings true today, “You can’t have enough pitching.”
In no particular order, here are this old scout’s opinion of the five best starting pitchers available in free agency:
Note: The player’s current team is listed in parentheses.
Dylan Cease-RHP-Age 29-6-2, 200 pounds. (San Diego Padres)
He is coming off a 1-year, $13.75M contract
Ranger Suarez-LHP-Age 30-6-1, 217 pounds (Philadelphia Phillies)
He is coming off a one-year, $8.8M contract
Zac Gallen-RHP-Age 30-6-2, 189 pounds (Arizona Diamondbacks)
He is coming off a one-year, $13.5M contract
Michael King-RHP-Age 30-6-3, 210 pounds (San Diego Padres)
He is coming off a one-year, $7.75M contract
Framber Valdez-LHP-Age 31-5-11, 230 pounds (Houston Astros)
He is coming off a one-year, $18M contract
Each of those five starters have been offered the Major League Baseball Qualifying Offer of $22.205M.
Players have until November 18 to accept or decline their qualifying offer.
Frankly, each of those pitchers will likely decline the offer, and test the open market.
With pitching at such a premium in MLB, all of the pitchers above will likely seek long-term, high average annual value contracts.
For this analyst, if he hits the open market, Framber Valdez represents a particularly interesting pitcher.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 02: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on September 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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About Framber Valdez:
To begin, Valdez throws left-handed, which has tremendous value in a starting rotation.
Valdez’ sinker is an incredibly effective pitch.
He and Ranger Suarez, also a lefty, could share the same free agent market, with the same teams vying for their services.
Valdez was signed out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in 2015.
Scouts had concerns about elbow issues, and Valdez didn’t sign until he was 21-years old, which is unusually old in the international free agent market.
Due to the uncertainty regarding Valdez’ elbow, he received a rather light $10,000 signing bonus from the Houston Astros.
The signing has been a bargain for Houston.
It took a bit over three years for Valdez to go from signing his contract to pitching in the major leagues.
When he was 24, Valdez made his big league debut with Houston, pitching 4.1 innings in relief against the Seattle Mariners. Valdez got the win in the game, and proved he can pitch against major league hitters.
An All Star in 2022, and 2023, Valdez has matured as a pitcher over parts of eight seasons with Houston.
A smart lefty with a solid arsenal, Valdez carries a solid 81-52 won-loss record into free agency. He has a big league career 3.36 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP in 1,080.2 innings pitched, covering 188 games, with 166 of them starts.
Valdez has also pitched in 12 postseason series, including two World Series.
Valdez won two games for the Astros in their 2022 World Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Valdez has been reliable, and has started 31, 31, 28, and 31 games for the Astros these past four seasons.
This year, Valdez went 13-11, with a 3.66 ERA, and 1.24 WHIP in those 31 starts, covering 192 innings.
Valdez threw two complete games in 2025, which is rare in today’s baseball.
Valdez’s sinker induces a great number of ground balls, making him an outstanding candidate to pitch in any MLB park.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 30: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros reacts during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park on May 30, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Valez’ Repertoire:
Valdez can be unique as he approaches hitters.
As noted by brooksbaseball.net, there are times when Valdez uses a four-seam fastball at 95 miles per hour.
However, most of the time he relies upon a wicked two-seamer, which he throws at 93 miles per hour. He used that pitch about 40.72% of the time last September.
Valdez also throws a changeup ( 18.57% ) slider ( 4.92% ) and a curveball (35.79%)
Valdez keeps hitters off balance, changing their eye level on almost every pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 02: Detailed view of a San Francisco Giants logo prior to a regular season game between the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants on June 2, 2023 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Suitors for Framber Valdez:
One must consider that Valdez will be pitching in his age 32 season.
He could meet resistance for a contract longer that three seasons.
That said, to this observer, there are several MLB teams that fit nicely for Valdez’ services. They include:
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Texas Rangers
New York Mets
Boston Red Sox
San Francisco Giants
San Diego Padres
Houston Astros
Prediction: San Franciso Giants
The Giants want to build behind starting pitching
The Giants have the financial wherewithal to give Valdez a long term-high annual value contract.