The Toronto Blue Jays are among several teams that have shown interest in free agent left-hander Framber Valdez, according to Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Widely considered the best free agent remaining on the market, Valdez and free agent right-hander Zac Gallen are the only two players left on the open market that declined the $22.05 million qualifying offer earlier this off-season.
The 32-year-old has been solid for the Houston Astros in recent years, going 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA in 31 starts a season ago. He also struck out 187 batters in 192.0 innings pitched.
Since he began pitching out of the rotation full-time in 2020, Valdez has a 3.23 ERA with two All-Star appearances. He also helped the Astros win a World Series title in 2022, turning in a 1.46 ERA in two Fall Classic starts in Houston’s six-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
An eight-year big-league veteran, Valdez owns a career 3.36 ERA in 188 regular-season appearances.
The Jays have been busy this winter, particularly on the starting pitching side, headlined by the signing of righty Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. Toronto also signed right-hander Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract and had Shane Bieber opt into a $16 million player option.
As things currently stand, the Jays have starters Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Cease, Bieber and Ponce under contract for this coming season. Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis — who combined to make 29 starts last season — are also under contract.
