After making the playoffs for the second year in a row, the Detroit Tigers are heading into the 2026 season with high expectations for themselves. The American League Central club will be looking to take another step forward and be a legitimate contender.
The Tigers have made a handful of moves this offseason, but none have necessarily been a major splash. Among their newcomers are veteran reliever Kenley Jansen and starter Drew Anderson. They also re-signed infielder Gleyber Torres and pitcher Kyle Finnegan.
Overall, the Tigers have made some solid moves, but it is clear that they should not be done yet. When looking at their current roster, it is apparent that they could use another impactful starting pitcher before the season is here. This would be excellent for a Tigers club looking to be a top team in 2026.
Now, the Tigers are being linked to baseball’s best remaining free agent pitcher as we inch closer to February.
Tigers Named Fit for Top Free Agent Pitcher Framber Valdez
In a recent article for The Athletic, Jim Bowden discussed multiple top remaining MLB free agents. Bowden also brought up a handful of potential fits for each free agent.
Naturally, Framber Valdez was featured in Bowden’s story, as he is the best pitcher who remains unsigned. For Valdez, Bowden listed the Tigers as among the teams that would be good fits for the two-time All-Star.
“There are several other teams where he still fits, such as the San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves,” Bowden wrote.
Hearing that the Tigers are being viewed as a fit for Valdez is not surprising in the slightest. When taking a look at their current pitching rotation, it is clear that Valdez would give the front half of it a nice boost if signed. With this, it would be huge for the Tigers if they ended up winning the Valdez sweepstakes.
Valdez is coming off another strong season, as he had a 13-11 record, a 3.66 ERA, and 187 strikeouts in 31 starts for the Houston Astros. This is after he had a 15-7 record and a 2.81 ERA in 28 games for the Astros in 2024. These kinds of numbers would make him a nice pickup for the Tigers if they landed him.
Valdez Is Expected to Land A Major Payday
Whether the Tigers sign him or another team, Valdez is expected to land himself a big payday. With the 5-foot-11 left-hander being the top pitcher on the market, there is no question that he is in a good position right now.
In a recent article for ESPN, Paul Hembekides reported that Valdez is expected to land a six-year contract worth around $180 million in free agency.
“With Ranger Suárez landing $130 million over five years in Boston, Valdez projects to get around six years and $180 million,” Hembekides wrote.
With this, if the Tigers want to land Valdez, they likely would need to offer him a major offer. This is especially so when other teams like the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves have been linked to the two-time All-Star as well.
Tigers Linked to Potential $180 Million Major Move