The San Francisco Giants enter the MLB offseason with a clear goal of adding a new starting pitcher to the rotation. Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp need another arm to go with that trio.
Justin Verlander is a free agent and could head back to the Houston Astros for a final season in the Major Leagues. But, just the the Astros could pry someone from the Giants, so too could the Giants go the other way.
Framber Valdez is a top free agent pitcher, and according to a recent report from Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Giants, amid their interest in a pitcher, are a suitor for Valdez this winter thanks to a noteworthy free agency update.
Giants linked to Framber Valdez in latest free agency update
"Free agent Framber Valdez met with San Francisco Giants officials at the GM Meetings last month, in addition to the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles," Morosi reports.
While this piece of news comes from the GM Meetings in November, the Giants' interest in Valdez being re-upped before the MLB Winter Meetings is noteworthy.
There have been reports that have indicated the Giants might not be in the market for Tatsuya Imai or any starter with a contract over $100 million, but this report from Morosi indicates that the Astros ace might still be in play for San Francisco.
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If they do wind up landing Valdez, then the Giants would be getting an ace who's 32 years old, and coming off a 3.66 ERA season with 3.8 bWAR for another strong year in his eight-year career.
Valdez has a career 3.36 ERA in 188 games, and as a two-time All-Star, he's shown the ability to pitch at a high level for long stretches of time over the last few seasons.
Adding Valdez, or any top pitcher, won't be cheap. But, if the Giants remain interested in Valdez, as per Morosi's re-hashed report, then San Francisco could pair Webb with an incredible starter atop what could be an elite rotation for years to come.
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