Another American League East team is in the running for baseball’s best remaining free agent pitcher.
The Blue Jays – among several other clubs – have expressed interest in left-hander Framber Valdez, The Post’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman reported this on Tuesday.
Heyman reported last week that Valdez, 32, would be patient in choosing his next team.
The Orioles have previously expressed interest in the former Astros pitcher, and the Yankees checked in on him before trading to the Marlins for left-hander Ryan Weathers.
Toronto, after falling two outs short of a World Series, has been active this season, especially in the pitching market. The Blue Jays have already added quality starters Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million) and Korea Baseball Organization MVP Cody Ponce (three years, $30 million) and submarine reliever Tyler Rogers (three years, $37 million) this offseason.
Valdez was a workhorse for Houston for eight seasons, especially the past four seasons when he averaged more than 191 innings per year.
Valdez, a two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion, has received Cy Young votes in four separate seasons.
In 2025, he had a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 192 innings. His season was not without drama, however, as he appeared to intentionally cross catcher César Salazar and threw a pitch to the backstop’s chest during a September game against the Yankees. In the immediate aftermath, his agent called the allegations “ridiculous.”
Another of Valdez’s former catchers, Martin Maldonado, told Chron.com this week that Valdez is a reliable pitcher that any team would be happy with.
“He’s a hard worker, a guy who’s ready to compete, ready to get the ball every five days, even four, if necessary,” Maldonado said of Valdez. “He’s also developed himself into that kind of guy. He’s worked to be that kind of pitcher.”
“As a teammate, I’ve never had a problem with him. He’s a guy who, you know, just like me, competes. Everybody knows that about him.”
Valdez turned down a qualifying offer from Houston to enter free agency, so that means any team that signs him will forfeit some form of draft picks in 2026.
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