Astros ace Framber Valdez deserves a contract extension

HOUSTON –  Framber Valdez has done it all for the Astros since his promotion to the majors in 2018. The Dominican ace has started 89 games at Minute Maid Park, now called Daikin Park.

Amidst those starts he’s won crucial postseason games and left many patrons in awe with his frisbee-like sinker and arching curveball. 

Valdez has started four consecutive Opening Days for Houston. He guided the Astros to their second World Series title in 2022. The hard-throwling left-hander threw the franchise’s 18th no-hitter and the first in Astros history by a lefty. 

A part of Valdez’s success at home is the comfort he feels on the Houston mound. He appreciates the Spanish-speaking fans, especially when they express their Dominican Republic pride. His fondest memories with the organization came at his home ball park.

“I feel a lot more confident being at home,” Valdez said. “I have confidence on the road as well, but at home it means more at home.”

Reliable Valdez

Valdez, 31, is an integral piece for the Astros pitching staff. Houston has relied on Valdez to lead their rotation since 2022. He has delivered. The two-time All-Star owns a 19.3 career WAR. 

Since 2020, Framber Valdez leads the majors in wins with 70. His 3.07 ERA is the lowest in the majors in that time span. Valdez has avoided major injuries, which has allowed him to accumulate those stats. There is no doubt that Valdez is a pillar of the Astros’ dynasty.

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However, like many former All-Stars he nears free agency. The Astros have shown reluctance to re-sign players to long-term contracts. The Astros let Carlos Correa, George Springer and Alex Bregman sign elsewhere. A few outliers are Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. 

Valdez hopes to pitch for the Astros after this season. Astros general manager Dana Brown hopes to talk to Valdez about a contract at the end of the season. Both parties haven’t had open conversation on a contract extension of late, however Houston understands the value Valdez brings. 

“Framber has meant the world to us,” Brown said. “In his last 13 starts, we’re 13-0. He’s won 10 of those 13 games. He’s been a true workhorse.”

Caballo

It’s not hyperbole when Brown calls Valdez a workhorse. Since 2020, including the postseason, Valdez has thrown 994 innings, which is the most by any other pitcher in the American League.

Valdez is only five strikeouts away from 1,000 regular season strikeouts. Throughout his career, Valdez’s best pitches are the sinker and his curveball. Although hitters are prepared to hit those two pitches, he’s always found success. 

Since his debut in 2018, opponents have hit less than .195 on his curveball. He’s recorded 605 strikeouts from his curveball. The movement of his sinker also causes batters to ground out a lot. 

This year, Valdez is in the 98th percentile in ground-ball percentage while also leading the majors in that category since 2020. Even though opponents know they will see a high dosage of sinkers and curveballs when they face Valdez, Astros Yainer Diaz is adamant that Valdez’s confidence is key to his success. 

“He has the confidence to throw any pitch in any location,” Diaz said of Valdez. “He has many plus pitches and he can find different strategies to get outs.”

Longtime Astro

The Astros currently have eight pitchers on the injured list. Framber Valdez’s ability to stay healthy and pitch deep into games is surely something the Astros don’t take for granted. Without Valdez and the emergence of Hunter Brown, the Astros would not be first in the AL West. 

Max Fried, who is the same age as Valdez, inked an eight-year, $218 million dollar contract with the Yankees.

Valdez would love to stay with the Astros. He projects to be the top free agent on the market, though. Especially with all the injuries that have hit Houston, it’ll be important for the Astros to re-sign Valdez. 

“It’ll be good to remain on the team where I grew and developed,” Valdez said. “This is the team that gave me the chance and has had the confidence in my abilities. I am just waiting for that moment. 

“It feels good to have lots of fans and play well in front of them. I want the team to know they have an elite pitcher who is worth it.”