This offseason needed to be different for the Atlanta Braves.
Especially compared to a year ago, the Braves not only had needs to fill but they needed to be aggressive in filling them. This is not just based on how disappointing of a year 2025 was overall. It is based on four straight years of increasingly disappointing results along with growing uncertainty of whether the current core can truly be a contender. To combat that uncertainty, urgency was needed to have a successful off-season.
This offseason has been different for the Atlanta Braves.
Already one of the most active offseasons during Alex Anthopoulos’s time with the Braves, Atlanta has addressed nearly every need it had entering the offseason. The bullpen is a strength once again, shortstop is no longer a source of despair, and the offense will hopefully be more versatile and consistent. It has been a successful offseason for the Braves.
But by no means should they be finished.
Since the end of the season, Anthopoulos has remained consistent with his emphasis on adding starting pitching. Even after filling most of his needs, AA reemphasized that focus last week. And not only does he want to add to the rotation, he wants to add a difference maker. While the Braves starting rotation has plenty of quality already and needs depth more than anything, adding a true front of the rotation arm to the Atlanta rotation would clearly make it among the best in baseball.
That level of talent currently remains available for the Braves to pursue, either via trade or free agency. Several names could make sense, but one name seems to check many boxes that Anthopoulos would like to address with an addition to the starting rotation.
That would be Framber Valdez.
And while recent history in terms of both Valdez and the Braves would suggest a pursuit is unlikely, sources of familiarity with Valdez and the foundation already in place with the Braves could make it make more sense than some may think.
When it comes to Valdez and free agency, no one questions the talent or production. However, almost everyone remembers the questionable incident from last year that some feel may not allow Valdez to be a fit for every team.
How much truth there is to the speculation of whether the incident was purposeful or not is certainly relevant. But so is the fact that the speculation exists. And that could lead to concern for teams about Valdez’s character, especially when it comes to making a huge investment in the lefty as he enters his mid-30’s.
But that is where Atlanta’s connections to the Astros could give them a bit more assurance than other teams about just how reliable Valdez can be. For one, prior to his current role as Astros GM, Dana Brown was with Anthopoulos and the Braves for many years. To what extent may not be known, but it is feasible to think that Anthopoulos and Brown likely have discussed Valdez at some point. Valdez was potentially on the trading back a year ago, and the Braves and Astros did complete the Mauricio Dubon/Nick Allen trade earlier this offseason. If Anthopoulos has had interest in Valdez, his relationship with Brown could provide added benefit to feeling comfortable in pursuing the veteran starter.
Furthermore, the Braves also just added former big-league catcher Martin Maldonado to the organization in a support role with the MLB team. This addition was viewed in a positive light by many, as Maldonado is well thought of as a future coach and potential manager. Of course, Maldonado also won a World Series with the Astros in 2022. Furthermore, the Houston staff loved Maldonado during his his time in Houston. This includes Valdez, who has a very strong and close relationship with Maldonado. In Maldonado, Atlanta likely has one of the best references of the player, teammate, and person Valdez truly is. That could make them more confident in aggressively looking to sign Valdez.
While the connection with Brown and Maldonado having an impact on the Braves pursuing Valdez is pure speculation, there is some sense to it. Anthopoulos is certainly known to thoroughly explore every aspect of a player before looking to add them to the franchise. In Brown and Maldonado, Anthopoulos would have two very reliable sources to support Valdez as a significant addition for the Braves.
Similar Style as Former Brave
The one aspect of Valdez that should clearly make the Braves interested in adding him is his talent and production. Since 2020, Valdez has finished 11th or better in the AL Cy Young race in four out of six seasons. He is 6th among MLB starters in fWAR over the time frame, and is fifth in total innings pitched. Not only has Valdez been elite for several years, but just as important to the Braves, he has been extremely durable.
Another aspect of Valdez that could make him even more attractive to the Braves is how closely he compares to former Brave Max Fried. In fact, it is shocking how similar the two successful southpaws have been since 2020:
Between the elite ability to produce ground balls and excellent control, both Valdez and Fried have been among the best overall starters in baseball this decade. And with the fact Fried has played all but one season of his career with the Braves, Atlanta is certainly familiar of how to get the most out of this pitching profile. But it also brings a fair question to light:
Why would the Braves sign Valdez only a year after they allowed Max Fried to leave in Free Agency?
Two factors play a part in answering that question. In age, Valdez is exactly two months older than Fried. However, he is also entering free agency at age 32 compared to Fried entering free agency last year at 31. Furthermore, over the past three seasons, Valdez has thrown nearly 120 more innings than Fried. In other words, as mentioned before, Valdez has been far more durable. With all the injuries Atlanta has seen happen to its starting staff in recent years, including Fried, durability is certainly attractive.
Going near the 7 years and $218M Fried got from the Yankees was not a avenue Atlanta wanted to take. However, a more durable but just as reliable and successful version of Fried in Valdez could be attractive to the Braves, especially if certain factors such as.age may mean a shorter term and smaller overall financial commitment. While still more unlikely than likely, Atlanta knowing how to maximize Valdez’s pitching style would also be a good setup to help him age well in terms of value to make an investment worthwhile.
Another way of saying the Braves want to add a difference maker to their rotation is that they want to add a talent they can trust to start a playoff game. From that perspective, the idea of adding Valdez to the Braves becomes even more intriguing. Since 2020, Valdez has thrown more postseason innings than anyone in baseball, including 17 in the World Series. He also is tied for the most postseason wins over that time frame with 7.
In fact, a year after Max Fried pitched six innings in Game 6 to lead the Braves to a World Series clinching victory in 2021, Valdez threw six innings in a Game 6 World Series clinching victory in 2022. Like Fried, Valdez has struggled at times in the postseason over the years, though he has a better track record. Though Valdez has a career postseason ERA of 4.34, he also has an career postseason xFIP of 3.19. Valdez has been a frontline starter for contenders in Houston throughout his career and has succeeded more often than not. If the Braves want to get back to contention, adding the proven postseason track record of Valdez could make a difference when it matters most.
As a can be seen, the word familiarity is a big reason as to why the Braves signing Valdez could make more sense than many may think. This comes from both the multiple ways in which the Braves can easily become more and more familiar with how Valdez operates and finds success and the familiarity Valdez has in producing as a frontline starter for a team that expects to contend.
That familiarity should also help with concerns about Valdez’s age, character, and any other questions that could arise. Furthermore, the foundation the Braves have as being one of the most well-regarded clubhouse cultures in the game would likely increase the chances Valdez would maintain his elite success on the field as he ages.
Of course, the financial commitment that it would to take sign Valdez, including losing the 26th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, would truly be a a new horizon for Alex Anthopoulos. Valdez’s asking price would likely come close to doubling the biggest free agent signings Anthopoulos has made in his career (Russell Martin and Marcell Ozuna signings were just over $80M). Also, Anthopoulos typically will invest in position players and the bullpen in free agency over starting pitchers.
However, while these reasons may again indicate the many reasons as to why the Braves could not pursue Valdez, it also could indicate another big reason why they should. After the past two seasons, the Braves should be motivated to change how they approach roster construction. Furthermore, they should be more aggressive in truly putting together a team that is a contender. Over the past two seasons, the one part of the Braves that has been truly elite at times is the starting rotation. Adding Valdez would solidify the Braves rotation to be among the best in baseball. Not only for the regular season, but the postseason as well. And that truth would be in place for years to come.
In the end, it is all but certain the Braves will add another starter to their team. And that level of starter will likely be noteworthy. But with the sources to become more familiar with Valdez than any other team can and a highly thought of franchise foundation already in place, the Braves should have the mentality to “go big or go home.” And after going homer earlier than expected for four years straight, there is no bigger signing than Valdez that can help the Braves’ chances of coming home with another championship in the near future.
