The Pirates are making a bold, and perhaps surprising, play for star pitcher Framber Valdez! This move, reported by Ken Rosenthal, positions Pittsburgh as a highly aggressive suitor for the left-hander. Valdez, who declined a qualifying offer from the Astros, would come with a significant draft pick compensation – the Pirates' third-highest selection in the 2026 draft.
At first glance, this might seem a bit counterintuitive. The Pirates already boast a pretty impressive collection of starting pitchers and could arguably use more help in their batting lineup. But here's where it gets interesting... adding Valdez could actually be a strategic masterstroke. It would allow them to tap into their deep pool of developing rotation arms and then use that surplus talent to bring in another much-needed hitter.
As the offseason has progressed, the list of potential trade targets has dwindled. However, the Pirates could still explore deals with teams like the Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte, the Red Sox for Jarren Duran (or Wilyer Abreu), or even the Nationals for CJ Abrams. These are just speculative ideas, of course, and the specific players available would likely depend on which of their promising young pitchers the Pirates are willing to part with.
And this is the part most people miss: While Paul Skenes is absolutely off-limits – a fact confirmed by GM Ben Cherington early in the offseason – Pittsburgh has a wealth of other young talent. We're talking about pitchers like Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler who are expected to contribute significantly. Plus, Jared Jones is set to return this season after UCL surgery. Even further down the pipeline, promising arms like Hunter Barco, Thomas Harrington, and Wilber Dotel are on the 40-man roster and nearing MLB readiness. And let's not forget Seth Hernandez, their No. 6 overall pick from last summer's draft. It's a truly deep and talented group of starters!
Imagine the one-two punch of Valdez and Skenes – it would be one of the most formidable duos in all of baseball! Valdez, a seasoned 32-year-old lefty, has been incredibly durable for the Astros. Over the past four seasons, he's logged an impressive 767 2/3 innings with a 3.21 ERA, a 23.9% strikeout rate, a 7.9% walk rate, and a remarkable 60% ground-ball rate. In fact, only Logan Webb has pitched more innings among qualified starters during that span. And when it comes to ground balls, Valdez's rate is among the best, with only a few other pitchers boasting higher numbers. His ERA also places him in the top tier of starters.
Now, signing Valdez would almost certainly mean the Pirates would need to offer the largest contract in their franchise history. But they've already shown a willingness to spend big this winter, reportedly offering Kyle Schwarber a substantial deal. Valdez is looking for a long-term commitment, but it's worth noting that finding such deals for pitchers aged 32 and older can be challenging. Historically, very few free agent pitchers in this age bracket have secured five-year contracts over the last 15 offseasons, and those who did, like Blake Snell, Jacob deGrom, and Zack Greinke, had even stronger resumes than Valdez currently possesses.
Currently, the Pirates' projected payroll for the upcoming season is around $95 million, which is remarkably close to their all-time record. Their pursuit of Valdez, along with past bids for Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez, clearly indicates a desire to significantly increase their spending.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some speculation suggests Valdez might be open to a shorter-term deal with opt-out clauses, a strategy we've seen from other high-profile free agents. It's unclear if he's amenable to this, or if Pittsburgh is even considering such an offer versus a more traditional multi-year pact. While the Orioles have been the team most frequently linked to Valdez, the Blue Jays remain in contention, and he's also been loosely connected to the Braves, Giants, Mets, and Red Sox.
What do you think about the Pirates' aggressive pursuit of Framber Valdez? Is it a smart move to leverage their pitching depth, or are they overreaching? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
