With their starting rotation problems still unresolved, the Mets are still in on free-agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez, even if more penalties come with it.
Will Sammon of The Athletic first reported that New York maintained its interest in the southpaw ace, who rose to stardom with the Houston Astros, even if that means that they would lose their third and sixth-highest selections in the 2026 MLB Draft.
They have already lost their second and fifth-highest picks after signing star infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal.
Both Bichette and Valdez were extended qualifying offers by their former teams, meaning the team with which they sign must part with draft assets.
Valdez has been a steady, top-tier starter over the past four seasons, which is something the Mets desperately need to pair with Nolan McLean. The 32-year-old has a 3.20 ERA and averaged 180.2 innings pitched with 175 strikeouts over the last five seasons.
Ranger Suarez, whom the Mets were in on before he signed with the Boston Red Sox, has helped set the market for Valdez’s next deal. The former Phillies’ southpaw joined the AL East club on a five-year, $130 million deal. Seeing as he is two years younger, a shorter contract could be in the cards for Valdez, which jives with New York’s president of baseball operations David Stearns’ philosophy of not doling out long-term, mega-deals for free-agent starting pitchers.
Valdez and the Mets have seemingly been linked for weeks, if not months, but time is running out for Stearns to improve a starting rotation that, for now, features McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, and David Peterson.
New York is believed to be in on a former Stearns protege, and Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, whose name has been a constant in trade rumors throughout the winter. The price, though, would have to be one of the Mets’ young starting pitchers, like Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat.
