Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, through which we study potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Crimson Sox ought to pursue them and what it could take to land them. Subsequent up, a controversial, Quantity Two beginning pitcher who is understood for appearing out.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
Framber Valdez is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher who signed as a global free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He’s spent his profession with the Houston Astros, although he declined their qualifying supply to enter free company.
Sports activities Illustrated calls him “an ace-caliber starter.” Every season from 2022 via 2024, Valdez completed within the top-10 within the American League Cy Younger race. He pitched a no-hitter in 2023, and he’s made two All Star groups. He received the Houston Astros Pitcher of the 12 months award twice. He received two video games for the Astros throughout the 2022 World Sequence, serving to them to in the end finest the Phillies.
Though his 2025 season received’t be remembered for any of these causes, he was his common wholesome and dependable self: pitching 192 innings, and usually going deep into video games. He completed the season on a low be aware although, by the numbers and within the courtroom of public opinion.
First, the numbers: in his final 10 begins, he went 2-7 with a 6.05 ERA. A Houston Astros fansite claims that the connection between Valdez and the Astros had begun to fray during the last couple of months of the season. Extra on this in a second, and let it’s remembered that the Astros have been out of their minds attempting to not let the Mariners triumph, eventually, within the AL West. (My girlfriend’s baseball-loving nephew lives in Houston and I’m unsure he would characterize it that method, however that’s how I bear in mind it.)
For now, suffice to say that there was plenty of strain on Valdez throughout this era which can clarify the dip on the finish of the yr—however he’s usually been an excellent pitcher.
TL;DR, simply give me his 2025 stats
In 31 begins and 192 innings pitched: 13-11, 3.66 ERA, 187 SO, and , not nice, 1.24 WHIP.
Why would he be match for the Red Sox?
Troubles on the finish of the 2025 season apart, he’s pitcher, and we want good pitching. We’d like that Quantity Two man who can pitch alongside Garrett Crochet all season after which in a playoff run. Valdez could possibly be that sort of pitcher.
With the groundballs he generates, it’s factor that the Sox as a corporation have determined to lean more into defense shifting ahead. The infield will have to be as much as that problem however in principle, all of it matches.
Why wouldn’t he be match on the Crimson Sox?
In a phrase: character. In one other phrase: cash.
First, his character. Infamously, he was accused of intentionally throwing a fastball at his personal catcher, which hit him within the chest, out of frustration after giving up a grand slam to Trent Grisham in September. Each gamers stated it was a misunderstanding, however others, like our personal Will Middlebrooks, mainly known as it an act of treason. The next pro-Yankees commentary is nauseating, however Dallas Braden breaks down the grand slam and its aftermath, moment-by-moment.
Whether or not or not the “cross-up incident,” because it’s develop into identified, was deliberate, the Astros fansite Climbing Tal’s Hill repeatedly took Valdez to task. It claimed that Valdez has a behavior of airing gripes in public and that the temper between Valdez and the entrance workplace, teammates, and followers might have already soured earlier than this late-season second. The site also reported that Valdez has publicly complained earlier than about his teammates and coaches. It particulars a selected in-game defensive realignment by Houston coaches, which sadly didn’t work as supposed; it resulted in a run scoring (by a gradual runner too) from first base. Unlucky, however it occurs that method generally. Valdez wasn’t happy and informed the media so.
Valdez attended the November GM conferences to satisfy with golf equipment, presumably to attempt to handle perceptions of him across the league. Extra just lately, he and his agent created and circulated a video that straight mentioned his character.
Thad Levine, former GM of the Twins and present baseball advisor (he was consulted on this very matter, so he’s on the payroll) says Valdez’s video presentation was very totally different from the standard collage of efficiency clips. As an alternative:
“It’s the basic story of a man rising up in a family with no electrical energy and no working water and actually having to combat for all the things all through his life. It actually places the individual in perspective.” — Thad Levine on Framber Valdez
I like perspective however we’ve just lately been down this highway. The Sox witnessed their very own mood tantrums this previous season and administration wasn’t having any of it. Raffy Devers out. With so many younger, impressionable gamers round—loads of them pitchers—they’d relatively have a pacesetter than a participant who tends to lash out publicly when he will get pissed off.
For followers, it’s much less enjoyable too. Would we relatively have Rooster and Beer or Joyful Idiots? That’s not a good comparability—Apples and oranges, you say? Certain, I don’t disagree—however it’s enjoyable to observe our crew having enjoyable isn’t it? And we deserve some enjoyable.
What wouldn’t it take to get him?
Let’s be sincere with ourselves; it feels just like the Sox have concluded their purchasing for pitchers and are going to give attention to hitting now (by no means thoughts that the most important bats have already discovered properties). So speaking about signing extra pitchers at this level could be a purely hypothetical, psychological train. However who is aware of! I’m not advocating to attend till spring coaching however it’s a factor that occurs now.
How about Framber Valdez as a Quantity Two, for a contract within the neighborhood of six years and $168M? The rationale is that Valdez will end up with the Mets (boy they need something to go their way, huh?) or Orioles due to earlier ties to of us in these entrance places of work.
Will a crew be capable of signal him for much less due to questions on his character? In all probability not; pitching is effective and his offenses are fairly minor within the scheme of issues.
He declined the qualifying supply from the Astros, so the crew who indicators him would additionally lose a draft decide. That alone feels prefer it would possibly take the Sox out of the combo.
It provides me no pleasure to function a spotlight in opposition to Cal Raleigh, however that is one nasty pitch by Valdez as he strikes Raleigh out.
I say move however it’s a sensible matter, and I say it with some ambivalence. It’s simple to say as a result of I feel the Crimson Sox entrance workplace has already moved on from vital pitching acquisitions. Do I consider in a world the place Valdez is appropriately contrite, turns over a brand new leaf, and turns into a crew chief alongside Alex Bregman? I might like to. Let’s simply say I wouldn’t thoughts that in any respect. However I’m not relying on it.
Do I nonetheless suppose that we’ll be asking for extra pitching later within the season, both on account of accidents, to issues not understanding as deliberate, or just because the entrance workplace didn’t roster the crew appropriately? You wager.
