Framber

Valdez

The 32-year-old southpaw is the top remaining free agent pitcher on the market, with the Giants and Mets among the other teams that are vying for his services. It seems like the Orioles are intent on adding at least one additional starter to their rotation before the 2026 season begins. They have also been linked to Justin Verlander should they fail in their pursuit of Valdez.

With Dylan Cease and Tatsuya Imai no longer on the market, Valdez and Suarez are likely the two biggest starting pitcher names being discussed. Neither one of them may be viewed as a traditional ace, but the Mets need proven, frontline starting pitching, and both of these veterans would fit the bill. For what it’s worth, Olney believes Suarez is the better fit for the Mets given his calm presence on the mound and his experience pitching in a big market in Philadelphia for his entire career.

Valdez is also known to have had conversations with the Orioles and Mets. No word yet on if he’s at the winter meetings, but since he’s the top arm left with Dylan Cease having signed, there are certainly a bunch of other starting pitchers that would like to see him sign quickly and open up the market.

Gomez notes that the Mets are expected to hand the 32-year-old hurler a six-year, $200 million contract. After the Blue Jays inked Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract earlier in the week, nothing would surprise us as this stage. As Valdez is an extreme ground ball pitcher, perhaps their advanced interest in him played a role in the Mets acquiring two-time Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien from the Rangers earlier in the week to bolster their infield defense.

It comes as a mild surprise that four players — Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff and Trent Grisham — accepted the short-term pact this cycle instead of testing the open market since only 14 of 144 players since 2012 previously accepted qualifying offers. Tucker, Bichette, Schwarber, Valdez, Cease, Suárez and Díaz were no-doubters here while there was some thought that Gallen and King might take the one-year deal to build up their values before hitting free agency next offseason.

Passan adds that Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette, Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, Edwin Díaz, Zac Gallen, Shota Imanaga, Michael King, Trent Grisham, Gleyber Torres and Brandon Woodruff are the other dozen impending free agent to receive the tag prior to Thursday evening’s deadline. They have until Tuesday, November 18 to decide whether to accept the one-year deal or decline and become free agents. Only 14 of 144 players to receive a qualifying offer since 2012 have actually accepted it. It’s worth noting that players who were on multiple teams — Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez — along with players who have previously received a qualifying offer — Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman — were ineligible to receive one this offseason.

The 31-year-old southpaw scattered seven hits on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. The lone tally against him came on a solo shot off the bat of rookie sensation Nick Kurtz in the sixth inning. Valdez generated 17 swings and misses on 92 pitches on the afternoon — 13 on his curveball — while posting an elite CSW of 36 percent. He likely concludes his regular season with a 13-11 record, 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 187/68 K/BB ratio over 192 innings in his 31 starts.

He gave up the seven hardest-hit balls of the game, ranging from 105.6 to 110.9 mph, and also walked four. Valdez was 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA through four months this season. Now, having given up 41 runs — 38 earned — in 51 innings since the beginning of August, he’s 12-11 with a 3.75 ERA. It’s maybe the biggest reason the Astros might miss out on the playoffs. Valdez figures to face the A’s on Thursday.

Valdez has been so erratic in recent weeks that it’s hard to believe it’s not October. Today, he gave up a homer to Matt Olson in the first. The run on the second came when Mauricio Dubón botched a potential double-play ball after a soft single and a walk. After that, things were quiet until the fifth, when Valdez opened the inning by walking three in a row and giving up two singles. Fortunately for Valdez, Enyel De Los Santos stranded both runners he inherited by striking out Marcell Ozuna, Sandy León and Nacho Alvarez Jr. The loss leaves Valdez 12-10 with a 3.59 ERA. He’s 1-6 with a 6.27 ERA since the beginning of August. The plan is for him to face the Mariners next weekend.

Jake Burger’s homer was the big blow. Valdez struck out the first two batters in the sixth, but he then allowed his third, fourth and fifth hits of the game, with the last being a 364-foot round-tripper. Since the first run of the game was unearned, this goes down as Valdez’s 19th quality start in 28 tries. He’ll head to Atlanta with a 12-9 record and a 3.42 ERA.