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The Tigers are in agreement with Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115MM contract, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal includes an opt-out after the second season, Passan adds. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, there’s some amount of deferred money. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that Valdez receives a $20MM signing bonus.
Valdez reunites with A.J. Hinch and gives the Tigers a lethal 1-2 pairing at the top of the rotation. He’ll slot behind Tarik Skubal atop a starting staff that suddenly looks like one of the best in the American League. They’ll be followed by Reese Olson, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize if everyone gets through camp healthy. That’d push KBO signee Drew Anderson into a swing role, while second-year righty Troy Melton can either pitch out of the bullpen or wait in Triple-A for a rotation spot to open up.
The Skubal-Valdez pairing may only be together for one season, as the two-time Cy Young winner is a year from what should be a record-setting free agent contract. Skubal and the club went to a hearing this morning that’ll determine whether he makes $19MM or $32MM for his final year under club control. The arbitrators will not reveal their decision until tomorrow, and Chris McCosky of The Detroit News confirms that neither the Tigers nor Skubal’s camp are aware yet of which way they’ll rule. The Valdez pickup is an independent decision.
More to come.