Despite the tumultuous season of injuries that has plagued the team, the Houston Astros still hold a lead in the American League West over the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
Despite enduring most of the season without star designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and their starting pitching being a problem aside from Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, the team has adapted and overcome the obstacles of the 2025 season, and are in the driver's seat to make the postseason as of now.
However, back to the starting pitcher issues, those could be ramping up for the team again after the entire season is said and done.
Framber Valdez Expected To Leave Team In Free Agency
Starting pitcher Valdez has been an asset on the mound for the Space City team since his debut in August 2018, being named to the 2022 and 2023 All-Star teams, winning the 2022 World Series, and being named to the 2022 All-MLB First-Team, but Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly doesn't see Valdez back in Houston for next year.
And looking back at the team's history, it's not exactly like Jim Crane nor Dana Brown to get in massive bids for starters, as we saw with Gerrit Cole and even a two-time Cy Young Award winner with the team in Justin Verlander.
And perhaps after last night's shenanigans that saw Valdez reportedly purposefully drill catcher Cesar Salazar with a pitch, it could be a subtle sign that Valdez himself is wanting out of the organization.
"Certainly, Houston would like to keep Valdez, who has a 3.18 ERA and two complete games over 26 starts this season," Kelly said. But recent history tells us they are more likely to let another team pay him over $100 million heading into his age-32 season in free agency."
Valdez is 12-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 27 starts in 2025.