Few teams have changed their outlook from the start of 2025 more than the Houston Astros. From being overlooked in their division to being one of the top contenders in baseball, the Astros' outlook is drastically different now than it was in April.
One of the main reasons for the team's success has been the one-two punch atop the rotation. Hunter Brown is a top Cy Young candidate, while Framber Valdez was an All-Star who's having another strong season.
But, with Valdez set to hit free agency, there's uncertainty over his future in Houston. With Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report's latest prediction for Valdez in free agency, the Astros might have a hard time keeping him in Houston.
Valdez Predicted to Get $100 Million in Free Agency
With a solid free agent class for starting pitchers, Valdez might be the best of them. Ranger Suarez, Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Zac Gallen all have issues, while Valdez's only holdup would be his age (32 years old at the start of a new deal).
While Valdez is the most likely starter to reach $100 million on the open market, as Reuter writes, "There is no slam-dunk ace in this class, and that makes it one of the more compelling stories of the winter."
But, despite there not being a clear-cut starter who will earn $100 million in free agency, of the starters Reuter mentioned, Valdez's only holdup was his age. If a team can overlook his age, then there's no reason why Valdez should earn anything less than $100 million.
Even though Valdez has the experience and prestige of a $100 million pitcher, there might be concerns about the wear and tear on his arm based on his innings pitched and age.
However, Valdez, at 31 years old, is having one of his best seasons of his career. Through 26 starts, he has a 3.18 ERA, a 12-7 record, two complete games, 158 strikeouts, and a 1.187 WHIP across 164.1 innings pitched.
MORE: Astros get Yordan Alvarez back in lineup for first time in 100 games
Losing a starter of his caliber would sting for Houston, and if he were to reach $100 million in free agency, it might be a difficult deal for the Astros to sign.
Carlos Correa added $70 million to the Astros' books, and Brown also has free agency looming after 2028, where he's likely to earn a massive payday. Jeremy Pena could also earn a huge deal soon, and the same goes for Isaac Paredes.
The Astros will need to figure out how best to allot their money in free agency, and Valdez could be a player who Dana Brown and the Astros let walk to spend resources on other players.
Such a decision might come easier if Valdez is poised to earn a contract north of $100 million in the offseason. With a couple of solid starters hitting the open market and with starting pitchers being hard to come by, Valdez would surely have a strong market.
While Reuter doesn't outright predict that Valdez will make $100 million in the offseason, Valdez is one of the top arms who could reach such a mark. Plus, with his only knock being his age, a team could easily overlook that if they need a starter and are in the middle of their window of contention.
MORE MLB NEWS:
- Cardinals not expected to be competitive in 2026, according to insider
- Insider provides exciting update on Padres trade deadline acquisition
- One Jack Flaherty statistic that should concern Tigers fans
- Guardians jokingly thank Taylor Swift amid 2026 schedule release, engagement announcement
- Guardians' 2021 decision coming back to haunt them amid losing skid
- Cardinals' Willson Contreras apologized to coach he hit with his bat