The Detroit Tigers shocked the MLB world on Wednesday, February 4, by signing left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez to a massive contract.
The deal came on the same day the Tigers held an arbitration hearing with ace Tarik Skubal and offered Valdez a three-year, $115 million contract that included an opt-out clause after the 2027 season, according to a person familiar with the deal.
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The shocking news came late Wednesday night as the contract was unlike anything the Tigers had handed out in recent years and seemed to come out of nowhere.
Valdez was a two-time All-Star and won the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career.
The 32-year-old lefty from the Dominican Republic has a career ERA of 3.36 and a 3.66 ERA in 31 starts last year as the Astros went 87-75.
Sentiment online was pretty split following the move, with some loving the move and others questioning how the Tigers could pay Valdez, but there was a $13 million discrepancy in the arbitration filing.
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What you need to know: Detroit Tigers sign Franber Valdez to 3-year, $115 million contract
Here’s the reaction after the Tigers signed Valdez:
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign Franber Valdez to huge contract: Reaction
