Finally, finally, finally, the Detroit Tigers spent their money on their ace.
On the same day they debated superstar pitcher Tarik Skubal in one of the most divisive arbitration hearings in Major League Baseball history, the club made its most significant signing of the decade. Franbel Valdez, the most highly regarded free agent on the market, will join the Tigers on a three-year, $115 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The contract is the highest single annual salary ever paid for a left-handed pitcher ($38.3 million) and includes an opt-out option after the second season.
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For Valdez, it was a profitable end to a tumultuous winter. Despite a top-notch resume, the dreadlocked Dominican lingers on the shelves like an unripe banana. Rumors are swirling about potential suitors, with the Orioles, Braves, Blue Jays, Pirates, Mets and Giants all linked to the 32-year-old. But in the end, Detroit emerged from the inaction haze with a ton of money and the services of the lefty.
Valdez and his agent may be looking to sign a longer deal, spanning six to seven years. Valdez turns 33 in November, and perhaps his age makes executives uneasy about a long-term commitment. Perhaps the club views him more as a reliable No. 2 starter than a true front-line monster. Maybe concerns about his makeup — Valdez had a bizarre incident last season where he seemed to intentionally mislead his receivers, causing them to be hit in the mask — did scare some teams away. But ultimately, Valdez’s strengths outweighed his weaknesses, at least in the eyes of Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris and his front office.
Considering Valdez’s track record, it’s no surprise that someone ended up giving him a nine-figure price tag. He is one of only two pitchers to throw at least 175 innings in each of the past four seasons. Among active pitchers, he ranks fourth in career postseason innings, trailing only the trio of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2020, Valdez leads qualified starters in ground ball rate. His surface numbers are back down a bit in 2025, but his peripherals are still relatively consistent with pro standards.
Valdez weaponizes one of the more unique combinations in the game, a sinker-curveball combination that caters to both righties and lefties. How his ground-ball style meshes with the Tigers’ infield defense will be interesting to watch. Detroit’s Dirty Guys ranked 25th among MLB infields in shutouts last year. Colt Keith is below average at third, Gleyber Torres is at second, and the rotation at shortstop — Javier Báez, Zach McKinstry and Trey Sweeney — is below average overall.
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But even if Detroit’s infielders don’t compete for a Gold Glove, Valdez should be an upgrade in a rotation that fell some holes behind back-to-back Cy Youngs last year. Jack Flaherty’s performance in 2025 is only average. Casey Mize had a strong first half of the All-Star Game but struggled down the stretch. Reese Olson got off to a good start with 13 games but was lost in the second half with a shoulder injury. Former top prospect Jackson Jobe will miss most of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Not the most exciting group. Now they don’t have to, because Valdez has changed the dynamic.
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Detroit has been widely criticized by pundits so far this offseason for taking a negative approach heading into Skubal’s final season in town. Back-to-back Cy Youngs are set to become free agents next winter barring unforeseen extensions with Detroit. The team and players argued over Skubal’s 2026 salary in a very important arbitration hearing on Wednesday. The outcome of the hearing was unclear as of Wednesday evening.
Many believe the Bengals’ negativity has to do with the uncertainty of Skubal’s salary. Whether he gets $32 million or $19 million, Detroit appears to be at a standstill. Before Wednesday, their only major offseason moves involved relievers (Kenley Jansen, Drew Anderson), returners (Gleber Torres) or both (Kyle Finnegan). Torres taking the qualifying offer would mean a huge financial outlay, but his return doesn’t make the Tigers any better.
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While it’s not Valdez’s fault, the price tag attached to his name could end up being an anchor for a Tigers club that has been stingy under current leadership. Paying $38.3 million per year to a No. 2 starting pitcher (which is the seventh-highest AAV in the league and second-highest behind Zack Wheeler) is risky business.
Countless questions remain as to whether Detroit has the offensive firepower to win a pennant. Riley Green, their most efficient hitter last season, had a terrible second half and ended up leading the American League in strikeouts. The team’s most valuable position player, according to bWAR, is catcher Dillon Dingler, who has only hit 13 home runs. Only one team in the past decade has won a World Series without a position player finishing in the top three in MVP voting. Even with the addition of Valdez, it’s hard to see Detroit reversing that trend.
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With Skubal, anything is possible. But as the last postseason highlighted, the Unicorns can’t do it alone. Valdez would at least help the cause. How he and his $38.3 million contract will coexist with Skubal, who the Tigers just deemed only worthy of $19 million, is an entirely different question.