Tigers Shock Baseball By Signing Framber Valdez For Rotation

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The Detroit Tigers have stunned the baseball world by signing star left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez to a 3-year, $115 million contract. Valdez, formerly the top available free agent pitcher, had been linked to several big-budget clubs like the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, and Dodgers, but ultimately chose to join the Tigers, reuniting with manager A.J. Hinch.

Why it matters

The signing of Valdez is a major coup for the Tigers, who already have the league's best left-handed starter in Tarik Skubal. However, Skubal is set to become a free agent this fall, so Valdez will likely take over as the ace of the Detroit rotation unless the team can re-sign Skubal. The Tigers are determined to end their playoff drought and compete for a World Series title, and adding an ace like Valdez is a big step in that direction.

The details

Valdez's contract includes a $20 million signing bonus and some deferred dollars. The Tigers had not been considered a top contender for Valdez, but were able to outbid several other teams for his services. Detroit's rotation now looks formidable, with Valdez joining Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, and Reese Olson. The signing caps a busy offseason for the Tigers, who have also added relievers Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, retained Gleyber Torres, and kept Flaherty.

• The Tigers signed Valdez just days before the opening of spring training camps.
• Valdez and Skubal were set to enter an arbitration hearing on Wednesday, with the Tigers offering $19 million and Skubal countering at $32 million - the biggest differential in arbitration history.

What’s next

The Tigers will open their spring training camp in Lakeland, Florida next week, where manager A.J. Hinch will have a powerful starting rotation led by Framber Valdez and Tarik Skubal.