Valdez Signs with Tigers, Sparking a Busy Pitching Market

Framber Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million deal with the Detroit Tigers to anchor the rotation alongside Tarik Skubal, a move that sharpens the free-agent market and keeps other top arms—like Zac Gallen and several others (Bassitt, Giolito, Verlander, Scherzer)—in play for teams such as the Orioles, Twins, and Pirates. Baltimore faces draft-pick penalties if they pursue Gallen, while budget constraints and tax implications shape how aggressively teams pursue high-end starters; the Yankees reportedly cooled on a Valdez pursuit after re-signing Cody Bellinger, and Minnesota’s front office changes signal broader retooling as the market moves forward.