Astros predicted to totally cut ties with $199 million 2022 World Series champion, two-time All-Star after signing Tatsuya Imai

The Houston Astros shocked the MLB when they signed Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal yesterday. However, this signing may have spelled the end of another Astro’s time in Houston.

According to Fansided’s Cody Williams, two-time All-Star and ace of the team, Framber Valdez, will not return to the Astros from free agency, and better start looking for another team.

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“Especially considering some of his quite public antics last season, I was never in favor of the Astros bringing Valdez back into the fold. But now that Houston has ostensibly signed his replacement in Imai, then I truly see no chance of Valdez coming back…For a team like Houston, we know that factor of price is always in play. And with this also being at Valdez's position, it puts the writing plain as day on the wall,” Williams wrote. 

In eight years with the Astros, Valdez posted a 3.36 ERA, 1053 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.204 over 1080 innings pitched. He was the main man for the past four years in Houston, but his attitude might have caused a rift with his team.

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On top of that, he’s projected to receive a six-year, $199 million deal. For a team like the Astros, that’s not the kind of money they want to be putting out for a guy like Valdez, especially when they got Imai for around $150 million cheaper. 

Overall, Valdez was a star in Houston; however, his relationship with the team was fraying, and his projected value was too much. While it could pain Astros fans to say it, it’s time to say thank you and goodbye.