Blue Jays & Framber Valdez: Trade Rumors & Updates

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to explore options to bolster their starting rotation, remaining interested in free agent pitcher Framber Valdez, according to reports from Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of The New York Post. The Blue Jays had previously discussed a potential deal with Valdez at the GM Meetings in early November, before signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract.

A Top Pitching Option

Valdez is considered by some to be the highest-upside starting pitcher still available on the open market. While other free agent pitchers remain unsigned, most are projected to fill roles in the middle or back end of a rotation. Zac Gallen is another free agent who rejected a qualifying offer, but Valdez is viewed as having the potential to be a high-end number two starter, or even an ace.

Did You Know? Valdez finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting for three consecutive seasons, from 2022-2024.

The left-handed pitcher had a strong first half of the 2024 season, posting a 2.75 earned run average over 19 starts. However, his performance declined significantly in the second half, with a 5.20 ERA over his final 12 starts. A publicized incident involving a miscommunication with catcher César Salazar, where Valdez hit Salazar with a fastball, also drew attention.

Financial and Roster Considerations

Entering his age-32 season, Valdez faces a potentially challenging free agent market, as five-plus year deals for pitchers of that age are uncommon. Blake Snell and Jacob deGrom are the only pitchers age 32 or older to sign contracts of five years or more in the past decade. The Blue Jays already have a deep rotation with six pitchers: Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and José Berríos.

Expert Insight: The Blue Jays’ continued interest in Valdez, despite already having a full rotation, suggests they are willing to explore options to significantly upgrade their pitching staff, even if it means exceeding current payroll commitments.

Toronto’s current luxury tax payroll is calculated at around $310 million, a franchise record. Signing Valdez could push that figure close to $340 million, resulting in a 90% tax on the average annual value of any further contracts. A $30 million salary for Valdez would add an additional $27 million to their tax bill, for a total investment of $57 million.

The Blue Jays have already used some of their draft compensation for signing Dylan Cease, giving up their second and compensatory picks. Signing Valdez would cost them their third and fifth round picks, though those selections are outside the top 100 overall. The Houston Astros, who previously employed Valdez, have indicated they are not currently pursuing a deal with him.

Other Potential Targets

In addition to Valdez, the Blue Jays have reportedly shown interest in bringing back Max Scherzer, though he is not seen as a comparable upgrade to their existing pitching staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Framber Valdez’s recent performance like?

Valdez had a strong first half in 2024, with a 2.75 ERA over 19 starts, but his performance declined in the second half, posting a 5.20 ERA over his final 12 starts.

What is the Blue Jays’ current payroll situation?

The Blue Jays’ luxury tax payroll is currently around $310 million, a franchise record, and signing Valdez could push that figure to approximately $340 million.

Has Houston expressed interest in re-signing Valdez?

According to Houston GM Dana Brown, the Astros “haven’t had any conversations lately” with Valdez’s camp.

As the start of Spring Training approaches, will the Blue Jays prioritize adding another impact starter, or will they move forward with their current rotation?