The Atlanta Braves have made it clear that one of their primary goals this offseason was to add a starting pitcher. The team had reportedly been in the sweepstakes for Japanese superstar Tatsuya Imai. Atlanta had only a couple of days to finalize a deal, which would have been notable for its rarity.
“If Imai is to sign with a major league team, it's going to be sometime in the next 48 hours. The deadline to sign players from the NPB is Friday at 5 p.m. If the Braves are interested, there is going to have to been some movement with haste. Should they sign Imai, it would break a long-standing hesitance from the Braves to sign players from Japan,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.
However, the Houston Astros secured Imai, making him unavailable to the Braves. Now, Atlanta’s attention has reportedly shifted to former Astros pitcher Framber Valdez.
“There are, however, some concerns about Valdez’s clubhouse presence after an incident in which he appeared to intentionally cross up his catcher out of frustration. That’s a red flag the Braves would take seriously, as they arguably value being a good teammate as much as any organization in baseball. If everything checks out, Valdez would significantly ease concerns about the Braves’ rotation in 2026 and beyond. He’s as consistent as they come, has extensive postseason experience, and has proven to be extremely durable,” Sports Talk ATL’s Chase Irle wrote.
Valdez is expected to be a high-profile target for teams seeking a starter. Bleacher Report’s Kelly Miller projects Valdez could command a contract around $200 million — a figure that might be a bit steep for the Braves.
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has shown a willingness to go outside his usual approach this offseason, so signing Valdez is far from out of the question. If Atlanta can be confident in Valdez’s clubhouse presence, he would be a perfect addition — another playoff-caliber arm to bolster their rotation for 2026 and beyond.
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