Overview

• During a Sept. 3 game, César Salazar signaled for a step-off before Trent Grisham hit a grand slam, and two pitches later a 93-mph sinker struck the catcher in the chest.
• Valdez called it a bad moment and stressed staying focused in his return start, while Salazar described the pitch as a miscommunication and Valdez’s agent called claims of intent preposterous.
• USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that a scout said their club crossed Valdez off its free-agent list and suggested the incident could cost him millions.
• In his first start since the incident, Valdez worked seven innings with three earned runs and five hits against the Rangers as manager Joe Espada lauded the outing.
• Despite scrutiny, Valdez remains a top impending free agent based on sustained performance, including recent seasons without an ERA above 3.45 and a strong career track record.