The Houston Astros are entering the offseason with a few areas of concern with the roster. But none are more apparent than the starting pitching staff. Other than Hunter Brown, the rest of the rotation is either hurt, struggling, or a free agent.
Framber Valdez is a free agent, and after the cross-up incident earlier in the year, there's a chance the Astros will let Valdez walk.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Valdez is already getting started on his free agent talks, as he's meeting with teams at the GM meetings.
Framber Valdez is meeting with teams at GM meetings
The Astros left-hander is poised to earn a massive payday after a strong stint in Houston. He's coming off a lackluster season by his standards in 2025, but he's still the top left-handed pitcher on the market.
Top free agent lefty Framber Valdez is here at the GM meetings, and will meet with teams. Valdez is tied with Max Fried for most wins this decade and second in quality starts to Zack Wheeler.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 11, 2025
Valdez had a 3.66 ERA in 31 starts in 2025, higher than any season he's had since 2020. But he was still a productive pitcher, striking out 187 batters in 192 innings pitched.
With a WHIP of 1.245, Valdez struggled a bit more than normal. Even then, he's still a top free agent and will likely receive plenty of competitive offers well north of $100 million.
More: Astros predicted to target $13.5 million All-Star to replace Framber Valdez if he walks in free agency
He'll be 32 years old at the start of the 2026 season, making his free agent market one of the more fascinating ones to monitor.
He's been one of the better pitchers in recent MLB history, but his age, combined with some minor regression in 2025, could make his chances of a huge deal more tricky.
The Astros' free agent pitcher is looking to land a big contract and is already getting his free agent talks underway. This aggressive approach, by showing up at the GM meetings to talk with teams, could lead to Valdez signing a deal sooner rather than later.
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