Just when it seemed like the offseason was a wrap for the Toronto Blue Jays, the ultra-aggressive team has once again surfaced as a suitor for the top remaining free agent. Ace pitcher Framber Valdez‘s market had gone pretty silent of late, but this news will bring it back into the spotlight.
Insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post has revealed that the Jays are among “several teams” that have interest in Valdez.
The left-hander came into the offseason expecting to be able to land a long-term contract and the biggest pitching deal in free agency this year. The Jays themselves ensured that wasn’t going to happen when they handed out a seven-year, $210 million deal right off the hop to Dylan Cease. That contract was not going to be topped.
Now, as Valdez has held out to just a week or so before pitchers & catchers report for spring training, his options are down to a short-term, high-AAV deal. The Blue Jays are willing to give it, apparently.
Jays rotation looks stacked, but needs a LHP
Toronto’s rotation is already loaded heading into 2026. Kevin Gausman, the newly-acquired Cease, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage are the headliners. Jose Berrios, Cody Ponce, and Bowden Francis are around as other options. But the one glaring void is a left-hander. All of those aforementioned are righties. Swingman Eric Lauer is the only southpaw rotation option in Toronto right now.
Valdez has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball over the past six seasons in Houston. He’s a horse, approaching 200 innings in three of the past four seasons, recording at least 28 starts (and usually 30+) over that time. His ERAs have been anywhere from the low 2.00s to the mid-3.00s. He’s a two-time All-Star, and a top 10 Cy Young vote getter three times.
The 32-year-old posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA over 192 innings in 2025. The Jays are said to have met with him way back in November. They could be re-visiting that now.
Several other teams have interest in Valdez as well as Toronto
However, Blue Jays fans beware: If Valdez is now set on a short-term, high-AAV deal, you just know the LA Dodgers and New York Mets will be lurking, ready to steal him away at the last minute.
Other teams labeled as threats to sign Valdez include the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers, among others.
