Another American League East squad is in the running for baseball’s top remaining free agent pitcher.
The Blue Jays — among several other clubs — have expressed interest in left-hander Framber Valdez, noti.group’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman reported on Tuesday.
Heyman reported last week that Valdez, 32, was believed to be patient as he decided on his next team.
The Orioles have previously expressed interest in the former Astros hurler, and the Yankees checked in on him before trading with the Marlins for lefty Ryan Weathers.
Toronto, after falling two outs shy of a World Series, has been active this offseason, particularly in the pitching market. The Blue Jays have already added righty starters Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million) and Korean Baseball Organization MVP Cody Ponce (three years, $30 million) and submarine reliever Tyler Rogers (three years, $37 million) this offseason.
Valdez was a workhorse for Houston over eight seasons, especially over the past four seasons when he averaged over 191 innings per year.
A two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion, Valdez has received Cy Young votes in four separate seasons.
In 2025, he held a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 192 innings. His season wasn’t free of drama, however, as he appeared to intentionally cross up catcher César Salazar, throwing a pitch at the backstop’s chest during a September game against the Yankees. His agent, in the immediate aftermath, called the allegations “preposterous.”
Another one of Valdez’s former catchers, Martin Maldonado, told Chron.com this week that Valdez is reliable pitcher any team would be lucky to have.
“He’s a hard worker, a guy ready to compete, ready to get the ball every five days, even four, if needed,” Maldonado said of Valdez. “He’s developed himself into that guy, too. He’s worked to be that kind of pitcher.
“As a teammate, I never had a problem with him. He’s a guy that, you know, like me, he competes. Everyone knows that about him.”
Valdez turned down a qualifying offer from Houston to hit free agency, so that means any team that signs him will forfeit some form of draft picks in 2026.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
