Overview

• Contract discussions are reportedly quiet, positioning the Astros left-hander to hit the open market this offseason.
• MLB insider Jon Heyman says clubs will compare Valdez to Max Fried’s record $218 million deal, with big‑market interest expected.
• Spotrac estimates a six‑year, $204.9 million contract for Valdez, an average annual value of about $34.2 million.
• Performance data cited includes the most innings per start since 2020, strong win totals, and a 98th‑percentile ground‑ball rate.
• Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly forecasts Houston may avoid a bidding war given past practice and other pending roster decisions, leaving Valdez’s Astros future uncertain.