There's one thing the New York Mets could certainly still use: an ace starting pitcher.
For all the talent on their 2025 roster, at least part of their collapse down the stretch was the lack of a true No. 1 starter.
There are still guys like that available in free agency, including Astros free agent Framber Valdez.
In a new article for The Athletic, Jim Bowden lists the Mets as his "best match" for Valdez.
Bowden also notes the Orioles and Tigers as possible matches, but has the Mets as number one.
"Mets president David Stearns is philosophically opposed to expensive, long-term contracts for starting pitchers, but if the Mets want to be competitive in 2026 it’s important they improve their rotation and have someone who can lead the staff," Bowden writes. "Valdez can do just that. He’s a ground ball machine who misses bats and has proven he can pitch in big games. The Orioles would also be a great fit, but I decided to match-up Ranger Suárez there instead. If the Tigers determine that they can’t extend Tarik Skubal and trade him, then replacing him with Valdez might make some sense."
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One big key to Valdez is his style as a pitcher. Unlike most guys in this era, he's not known for his strikeout ability.
Instead, Valdez induces tons of ground balls and weaker contact than the average pitcher. He can strike guys out, too, but that's not his calling card.
Because of that, Valdez feels like a safe bet to age pretty well. His movement and groundball-inducing ability shouldn't just disappear even if Valdez loses a tick off his fastball.
The Mets aren't shy about spending money on the right players. It would make sense for them to view Valdez as the right guy to chase and to get a deal done.
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