The Pirates' Surprising Pursuit of Framber Valdez
In a move that has caught many off guard, the Pittsburgh Pirates have entered the bidding war for star left-hander Framber Valdez. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Bucs are one of the most aggressive clubs in this pursuit, which is intriguing given their already impressive starting pitching roster and the need to strengthen their batting lineup.
At first glance, this development seems counterintuitive. However, adding Valdez to the mix could be a strategic move. It would allow the Pirates to further utilize their depth in the rotation and potentially acquire another powerful bat. As the offseason progresses, trade targets have become scarcer, but the Pirates still have options. They could explore trades with the D-backs for Ketel Marte, the Red Sox for Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, or the Nationals for CJ Abrams. These trades would depend on which young pitchers the Pirates are willing to part with.
The Pirates have a deep collection of talented starters, including Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Jared Jones, who is returning from UCL surgery. Additionally, they have a promising group of young arms like Hunter Barco, Thomas Harrington, and Wilber Dotel, who are close to MLB-ready. With such a strong pitching core, the Pirates could leverage their depth to acquire the much-needed batting power.
Pairing Valdez with Paul Skenes, who is off-limits according to General Manager Ben Cherington, would create an incredible one-two punch for the Pirates. Valdez, a 32-year-old iron man in Houston's rotation, has consistently delivered impressive performances over the past four seasons. His 3.21 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate, and a remarkable 60% ground-ball rate are among the best in the league. Only Logan Webb has pitched more innings in that time among qualified starters.
Signing Valdez would likely require the Pirates to offer the largest contract in franchise history. They've already shown their willingness to spend big this winter, reportedly offering Kyle Schwarber a four-year deal worth $120-125MM. However, the market for pitchers aged 32 and above is limited, as evidenced by MLBTR's Contract Tracker. In the past 15 offseasons, only three free agent pitchers aged 32 or older have secured five-year deals, and all were former Cy Young winners.
The Pirates' projected payroll for the upcoming season is $95MM, which is remarkably close to their franchise record. Their pursuit of Valdez, Schwarber, and slugger Eugenio Suárez demonstrates a clear intention to push their budget to new heights. It remains to be seen whether Valdez will accept a shorter-term deal with opt-outs, as some high-end free agents have done recently. The Pirates' strategy and the outcome of this pursuit will be fascinating to watch.
And here's where it gets controversial... With the Pirates' aggressive approach, are they risking overspending on aging talent? Or is this a calculated move to build a championship-caliber team? What do you think, baseball fans? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
