The Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $12.1MM salary for the 2024 season, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Valdez, 30, took something of a step back last year from a standout 2022 campaign that saw the southpaw post a 2.82 ERA while leading the AL with 201 1/3 frames en route to a top 5 finish in AL Cy Young award voting. Nonetheless, Valdez posted strong numbers in 2023 with a 3.45 ERA that was 22% better than league average by measure of ERA+ in 198 innings of work. That solid performance was backed up by a 3.50 FIP that largely matches his top-level run prevention numbers. Looking under the hood, Valdez posted a 54.2% groundball rate that, while well above average, was actually a career low for the lefty, who generated grounders at a 66.2% clip for his career entering 2023. That being said, he countered the increased contact in the air with the best strikeout (24.8%) and walk (7.1%) rates of any 162-game season in his career.
It’s Valdez’s third trip through arbitration, though as a Super Two player the left-hander will be eligible for arbitration a fourth and final time in 2025. The $12.1MM salary for 2024 is an exact match for the projection put forth by MLBTR contributor Matt Swatz back in October. The deal continues the streak of the sides avoiding arbitration throughout Valdez’s career. Last season, the sides avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $6.8MM salary for 2023, while the sides settled on a $3MM salary for the 2022 campaign in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
Houston attempted to work out a long-term extension with the left-hander last spring, though the sides ultimately did not come together on a deal. While it’s possible the sides could look to reopen those negotiations in the coming weeks, rumors swirled last month that the Astros were listening to offers on the left-hander from at least half a dozen clubs. Between those trade rumors and the impending free agencies of second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman, both of whom GM Dana Brown has expressed interest in extending as recently as November, it seems reasonable to think any talks of a longer term arrangement with Valdez could be on hold for the time being. In the meantime, Valdez figures to be paired with veteran ace Justin Verlander at the front of Houston’s rotation with the likes of Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy, J.P. France, and Hunter Brown also in the mix for spots in the club’s Opening Day rotation.
Dusty rode Framber hard late into games during the 2nd half when Valdez was totally out of gas. It showed in the playoffs. I fear he is due for an injury plagued year.
I think Dusty did put a lot of trust in Framber and think he should not have been pushed to go 7 or 8 or more. Now like that no hitter he had I believe he wanted it and more.
I don’t know what k ind of year it will be for Framber or even Verlander with his age. But Verlander will be with team for perhaps the full season. Whether will be healthy as last season was not good for him.
The other starters Javier started good but flopped rest of regular season and was tops in playoffs till that final game at home where just did not have anything.
Brown, Urquidy, France not sure on either of them. But whether the TV deal even with Astros and Rockets I think as well putting SpaceCity Home Network together. Has prevented Astros from doing much this off season.
They lost Neris, Maton and Stanek and none of them seem to have been mentioned this off season even on this site.
Houston is relying on their oldies but goodies. Meyers for CF full time but last 2 seasons we saw what he had. Nothing. Chas was ok but not whopping great at times.
Altuve this is his last year and Bregman. But Bregman didn’t show a lot last season, Pena did not as was up and down in lineup. Abreu with his back whether he starts better. Diaz as catcher now. No guarantee wit h him. I am still a fan but I still question things. If had enough confidence in things.
but hope and pray for something this season. Will Rangers be a hold on the Top spot and dethrone Astros from their run lately. Houston barely got in the playoffs last season. Wonder if this off season would still have been the same thing and nothing done but get a back up catcher. And bullpen to stash in AAA.
Won’t be long before pitchers and more report. And I think we start season against the Yankees and Toronto and Texas I think so a big test right off the bat. Will see if the pitching is there. The upgrades Yankees did with Soto and more
Texas if they do not get Montgomery and have the starters they have not sure how they will go. As Scherzer and DeGrom are out for a few months if not half the season.
Altuve isn’t in his last year here, just the last year in that contract. He’s the only one not going anywhere.
You really wrote a novel to say nothing?
Framber pitched fewer innings than he did in 2022. He’s a horse, an old fashioned ace that would have been good in the 80s pitching 225+ innings. He hurt his ankle in July and wasn’t the same guy. I will give you that an extra 2 weeks of offseason will help him though.
Verlander will he healthy and top 10 in Cy Voting, or hurt but good when he pitches.
Javier and Brown were simply worn out from a short offseason after largest workload of their careers then having larger responsibility due to injuries in the rotation. They both should be better this year.
Urquidy and France are inning eating #5 starters who will determine whether Javier and Brown can pitch fewer innings w/ less pressure.
Losing Neris, Maton, and Stanek may hurt but there are several untested arms out there, and its not like other teams are fighting each other to sign those guys.
Meyers is an exceptional defensive CF who will be a 2.5 WAR player if he can just stay within 10% of MLB avg with the bat. He’s Pena but in the grass. If he’s the worst position player on a team, that is a good team.
I love way you say Chas was “OK but not whopping great at times” lol. 168 hitters got 450+ PA last year. Chas was 20th in wRC+ and 28th in OPS. He was exceptional and there is no reason to think he will regress.
Bregman didn’t show a lot last year? How about being 12th in MLB in runs scored and 20th in RBI?
How about 35th of all position players w/ 4.3 fWAR? And he’s the 4th best position player on this team. There are 30 teams.
The bottom line is fangraphs still projects this team to have the most WAR in the AL.
Last year Dusty choked their World Series chances right out by keeping Diaz and Chas on the bench in favor of drastically inferior players. Dusty’s gone.
He is worth 2x that, easily
I would take this guy over any other pitcher in the show. I think he is gonna be pure filth for at least 6 or 7 more years. Everytime he pitches he looks unhittable as long as he doesn’t groove one. The few times I have seen him lit up is when he sticks it right down the middle.