We’re just over a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training, which means some of the remaining marquee starters should start coming off the board soon.
At the top of that list is Framber Valdez. Many expected him to land the most lucrative deal of any starting pitcher this offseason, so the fact he’s still unsigned is a bit surprising. Valdez has been the definition of a workhorse over the last four seasons, throwing at least 176.2 innings each year while posting a 3.36 career ERA. At 32 years old, he still profiles as a pitcher capable of commanding a deal in the $150–200 million range.
That said, there have been recent rumblings that Valdez might be open to a shorter-term contract. If that’s the case, it could open the door for a team like the Braves, who were likely never comfortable handing out a five- or six-year deal to a pitcher in his 30s.
The exact reason Valdez’s market has been quieter than expected isn’t entirely clear. It could be age-related concerns, or it may stem from last season’s incident where he appeared to intentionally cross up his catcher out of frustration. That’s the type of red flag teams don’t simply brush aside, and it’s possible a deeper look into his clubhouse reputation has given some clubs pause.
If that’s part of the equation, the Braves are unlikely to be the team that overlooks it. Alex Anthopoulos consistently stresses clubhouse chemistry and does thorough background work on every player he considers. It also wouldn’t be difficult for him to gather information on Valdez. Astros GM Dana Brown previously worked closely with Anthopoulos in Atlanta and played a key role in acquiring several of the Braves’ current core players. If there were real concerns, Anthopoulos would know better than anyone.
Between that and the reality that Valdez is still going to command a hefty payday — short-term deal or not — it’s hard to envision Atlanta being heavily involved. Another alternative could be Zac Gallen, but because he received a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, signing him would cost the Braves the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft.
That likely pushes him off Atlanta’s board, leaving Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito as the most realistic options. Both are proven veterans with some remaining upside who would likely come on short-term deals. If you’ve followed the Braves long enough, that’s exactly the type of move Alex Anthopoulos tends to make.
They may not be the sexiest options, but at this point, they are far better than the Braves sitting on their hands and doing nothing.
—
Photo: Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sports
