The Philadelphia Phillies have been unable to make any splash additions from the outside so far this offseason.
After coming up short in heartbreaking fashion again during the playoffs last season, fans were hoping to see the Phillies get aggressive. Unfortunately, the team took a big swing and missed on former Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette. Instead, he ended up signing with the NL East rival New York Mets.
Following that miss, Philadelphia could still be looking to make a big move. While the front office was able to re-sign both Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies did suffer a big loss when Ranger Suarez signed with the Boston Red Sox.
Could Philadelphia look to bring in a starting pitcher to replace Suarez?
Philadelphia Phillies Could Consider Nearly $200 Million Move
One potential option for the Phillies could be to turn their attention to Houston Astros free agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez.
That is exactly the scenario that MLB insider Jim Bowden has suggested. He named Philadelphia among the list of teams to watch as a suitor for Valdez.
Valdez would be an excellent addition for the Phillies. He would replace Suarez and give the team a much better chance of making a run at the World Series. However, he’s not going to come cheap.
Spotrac has shared a market value projection for Valdez this offseason. They have forecasted a contract worth around $199.9 million over the course of six years. It’s possible that Philadelphia could get him cheaper, but the deal is going to be expensive.
Dave Dombrowski has never shied away from being aggressive in the past. With Valdez still on the market, it would not be shocking to see the Phillies get involved.
What Would Framber Valdez Bring to the Phillies?
Over his years with the Astros, Valdez has been one of the most underrated starting pitchers in baseball.
Last season in Houston, the 32-year-old pitcher made 31 starts. He compiled a 13-11 record to go along with a 3.66 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a 2.8 K/BB ratio, and 192 innings pitched. Back in 2024, he went 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.1 K/BB ratio, and 176.1 innings completed across 28 starts.
Simply looking at the numbers, it’s clear why Philadelphia should have interest. He would be a perfect replacement for Suarez, although the question about his price tag could be a holdup to any potential deal for the Phillies.
Along with Philadelphia, Bowden did mention other teams to watch when it comes to Valdez.
He suggested that most believe the Baltimore Orioles will sign the veteran starter. In addition, he named the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and San Francisco Giants as teams who could make a move for the starting pitcher.
Whether or not the Phillies will make a push to sign Valdez remains to be seen. He would make a lot of sense in Philadelphia and would help the teams chances of winning a championship, but he might cost a bit too much.
Phillies Linked to Potential Nearly $200 Million Splash Move