Overview
- Houston formally tendered Valdez a $22.025 million qualifying offer for 2026, triggering a Nov. 18 accept-or-decline deadline.
- If he declines and signs elsewhere, the Astros would receive 2026 draft compensation with the pick’s placement tied to their competitive-balance-tax status.
- Market forecasts vary widely, from MLBTR’s projected five years and $150 million to ESPN’s six years and $168 million and The Athletic’s seven years and $196 million, with Spotrac estimating nearly $200 million over six years.
- Valdez is viewed as one of the top starters available after a 2025 season of 192 innings with a 3.66 ERA and 187 strikeouts that builds on several years of high workload and effectiveness.
- Re-signing him could require Houston to exceed its historical guarantees for starters under owner Jim Crane, while external chatter links him to bidders such as the Mets and Giants in speculative predictions.