A Tigers rotation already led by the best starting pitcher in the American League is about to become even more fearsome.
The Tigers have agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with left-hander Framber Valdez, sources told MLB.com on Wednesday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical and includes an opt-out after the 2026 season.
Detroit remained in position to be opportunistic on a free-agent starting pitching market with many quality arms available as Spring Training approaches. By adding Valdez -- a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Astros -- the Tigers have enhanced a staff anchored by back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, and one that already was shaping up to be strong in 2026.
The Tigers’ rotation picture now includes Skubal, Valdez, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize.
Reese Olson could have the inside track to the No. 5 job; he’s on track to be ready after he suffered a season-ending right shoulder strain in 2025. Drew Anderson and Troy Melton are also rotation options.
It’s worth noting that, among the first four names listed, Valdez is the only pitcher who would be under contract past 2026. In the near term, he and Skubal could form one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball.
Valdez, who turned 32 on Nov. 19, spent his first eight seasons with the Astros -- the first two of which were under manager A.J. Hinch from 2018-19. The lefty has since established himself as one of the most consistent starters in baseball, finding a formula for success in the Majors by combining solid strikeout numbers with a heavy dose of ground balls.
Since the beginning of 2020, Valdez has posted a 3.23 ERA over 973 innings. Only four hurlers have shouldered a heavier workload than him over the past six years, and his 128 ERA+ in that span ranks eighth among those with at least 100 starts.
And since 2021 (Valdez’s first extended campaign in Houston’s rotation), he has recorded 18.3 fWAR -- which ranks ninth among pitchers over that span. Skubal (19.4 fWAR) ranks sixth.
The 2025 campaign marked the third time in four years that Valdez reached the 30-start plateau and saw him finish with a 3.66 ERA and 187 strikeouts over 192 innings. After the season, the Astros tendered a qualifying offer to Valdez, which he declined. The QO, which would have paid him $22.025 million for 2026, attached him to Draft compensation; Houston will receive a Draft pick after the fourth round.
Valdez progressed relatively quickly through Houston’s farm system after signing as an international free agent in 2015, but he was never a high-profile prospect and faced doubts about whether he’d stick as a starter in the Majors. His performance after reaching MLB was uneven: He recorded a 4.60 ERA over 34 games (13 starts) across 2018-19.
Valdez, though, broke out during the shortened 2020 campaign, capably assuming the mantle as Houston’s ace after the team lost Gerrit Cole to the Yankees in free agency and saw Justin Verlander go down with an elbow injury that eventually led to Tommy John surgery.
Valdez went on to have his best season in 2022, recording a 2.82 ERA with 194 K’s over an AL-leading 201 1/3 innings during the regular season, a performance that resulted in a fifth-place finish in the AL Cy Young race. He added a 1.44 ERA over four playoff starts, helping the Astros win the World Series.
The Tigers have similar championship aspirations in 2026, coming off a ’25 season in which they came one win shy of advancing to the AL Championship Series. This offseason, they’ve fortified their pitching staff by signing Anderson (one-year deal) and relievers Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan.
Signing Valdez marks a substantial splash, one that could pay major dividends for Detroit as it pushes for October glory this year.