With spring training just around the corner and most of the major free-agent dominoes already fallen, one name still surprisingly lingers on the board: Framber Valdez. While stars like Kyle Tucker (Dodgers), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Alex Bregman (Cubs), and Pete Alonso (Orioles) have all found new homes or returned to familiar ones, Valdez remains unsigned – a surprising development for a pitcher once considered among the top arms available this winter.

Valdez’s free agency has been one of the more curious storylines of the offseason. From the outside, it never felt like Houston was in any real hurry to bring him back.

His final season with the Astros carried the weight of an ending – a sense that both sides were ready to move on. And now, as the market plays out, it’s becoming clear that the split may have been more strategic than sentimental.

Let’s be clear: Valdez has the résumé to command top-tier money. A lefty with postseason experience, a heavy sinker, and the ability to go deep into games – those guys don’t grow on trees. But his market has cooled significantly, and the reasons go beyond just age or innings pitched.

There were some red flags during the 2025 season that likely gave front offices pause. Reports emerged that Valdez may have crossed up his catcher – intentionally – and he wasn’t shy about voicing concerns with Houston’s coaching staff.

In a sport that values clubhouse chemistry and buy-in as much as raw stuff, those moments can stick. Fair or not, they’ve likely played a role in how teams are approaching his free agency.

The Orioles have been the team most consistently linked to Valdez, but even that interest seems to be fading. Baltimore appears to be shifting its attention toward other options like Justin Verlander or Lucas Giolito – veteran arms who may come with fewer question marks. The Giants were another rumored fit, but according to MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand, a long-term deal from San Francisco doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

At this point, Valdez’s market feels like a collection of half-hearted maybes. Teams are kicking the tires, but no one’s racing to the finish line. And from the Astros’ perspective, that’s starting to look like a win.

Houston has long been cautious when it comes to handing out big contracts to pitchers on the wrong side of 30. They’ve let talented arms walk before – Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, Dallas Keuchel – and while it hasn’t always been popular with fans, it’s part of a bigger philosophy: build from within, spend smart, and avoid long-term deals that could age poorly.

Had the Astros tried to lock Valdez up with an in-season extension, it likely would’ve cost them somewhere near $200 million. That’s a massive number for a team that’s already navigating payroll challenges and looking to extend its competitive window. Now, with Valdez still unsigned, Houston’s decision not to go down that road looks more like foresight than frugality.

There’s still time for Valdez to find the right deal – and he probably will. Left-handed starters with his track record don’t stay unemployed for long.

But the longer this drags out, the more it reinforces the idea that Houston may have played this one just right. They walked away when the price tag felt too steep, and for now, it looks like they dodged a financial bullet.

Whether their rotation is better without Valdez is a separate debate. But one thing’s becoming clear: the Astros didn’t just let him walk – they may have walked away at exactly the right time.