All through the offseason the CBS Sports activities MLB specialists will convey you a weekly Batting Round roundtable, breaking down fairly a lot something. The newest information, a historic query, ideas about the long run of baseball, all types of stuff. Two weeks in the past we debated Munetaka Murakami’s future. This week we’ll do the identical with Framber Valdez. The Astros, who employed Valdez for the primary eight years of his robust MLB profession, agreed to a cope with star Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai on Thursday.
Which crew most wants Framber Valdez? The place will he signal?
R.J. Anderson: I am going to say the Orioles for each. They’ve already made a couple of additions to their rotation, signing Zach Eflin and buying and selling for Shane Baz, however I do not suppose they need to cease simply but. Inking Valdez would enhance the rotation’s ceiling, in addition to enable them to make use of an extra starter — be it Dean Kremer or Cade Povich — in a deal to handle one other space of weak spot.
Matt Snyder: The Cubs have discovered a number of success with left-handed pitchers in Wrigley Discipline. Proper now, the rotation appears to be Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea with Justin Steele returning in some unspecified time in the future from Tommy John surgical procedure. This can be a crew that made the playoffs final yr for the primary time since 2020, however nonetheless took at again seat to the Brewers. Additionally they ought to be flexing their monetary muscular tissues as the one large-market crew within the NL Central, however they ranked within the teenagers in spending final season and it appears the identical proper now heading towards 2026. It ought to be the Cubs right here.
However it will not be. Tom Ricketts is content material to have Jed Hoyer run a middle-market operation regardless of being the Massive Brother in Chicago.
I am going to say the Giants signal Valdez. I do know they’re reluctant to signal a pitcher long-term, however it appears like each suitor on Valdez is similar manner, which means the market may come again to Buster Posey right here.
Dayn Perry: The Mets may actually use a veteran bedrock on the entrance of the rotation that price them final season. Valdez actually checks that field. His ground-balling methods is likely to be a pleasant slot in entrance of a middle-infield protection that is been improved by swapping out Jeff McNeil for Marcus Semien. Largely, although, the Mets actually need innings and run prevention in entrance of a rotation that in any other case contains a mixture of youth and mid- to back-end veterans.
Mike Axisa: I am with Snyder. The Cubs completely ought to signal Valdez. Their infield protection is off-the-charts good, particularly with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner up the center, and Valdez is the very best floor ball starter in baseball. Listed here are the highest floor ball charges since 2021 (minimal 500 innings):
- Framber Valdez: 61.6%
- Logan Webb: 57.8%
- Cristopher Sánchez: 57.5%
- Max Fried: 53.9%
- Brayan Bello: 52.7%
(MLB common: 41.8%)
The Cubbies want one other starter and Valdez in entrance of that protection could be a wonderful factor. It is a no-hitter ready to occur. Chicago already has two lefty starters (Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga) and may have a 3rd when Justin Steele returns from his elbow reconstruction, however I would not let that deter me. The upside is just too nice, plus they’re all very completely different lefties, stylistically.
As for the place Valdez will signal, I am going to go barely off the board and say the Tigers, who’ve an unsettled again of the rotation and may lean on the A.J. Hinch connection courting again to his time with Valdez in Houston. Valdez may pair with Tarik Skubal in 2026 and likewise be a hedge in opposition to Skubal leaving as a free agent subsequent offseason.
