The Chicago Cubs have been looking good so far this season. And even though they’re less than a dozen games into the campaign, they’ve been looking like contenders.
The Houston Astros, meanwhile, have so far NOT been looking like contenders.
Normally, that wouldn’t mean anything, since the two teams aren’t even in the same league. However, if the teams continue their respective trajectories up through the next couple months, things could become very interesting around trade deadline.
Could The Chicago Cubs Pick Up The Astros Ace?
The Astros’ ace Framber Valdez is set to become a free agent at the end of this season and The Athletic’s Chandler Rome is reporting that, per Valdez himself, the team has not approached him about an extension.
So, if Houston has no intention of extending him and the team is struggling close to the trade deadline, Valdez will almost surely be offered up as trade fodder.
Drew VonScio of Newsweek believes this scenario is likely and that the Cubs and the Atlanta Braves could be the primary teams looking to make such a deal for the veteran starter.
Per VonScio:
“Currently, either team could expect to cough up two top-15 prospects for Valdez. As the deadline approaches, however, his price could quickly shoot up. Both teams should be willing to pay the price for an elite starter who would easily slide in to the top of their rotations.”
Valdez Has Been Elite
The 31-year-old Valdez has been an elite-level pitcher since he won a permanent rotation spot with the Astros in 2020. In five full seasons as a full-time starter, the Dominican Republic native has never posted an ERA above 3.57. He has a 3.31 lifetime ERA through parts of eight separate seasons.
Over the last three seasons, specifically, the left-handed Valdez has been one of baseball’s top starters and a real workhorse when it comes to innings pitched, averaging around 192 innings per season and topping out at 201.1 in 2022.
Last season, he was absolutely stellar, posting a 15-7 record and a 2.91 ERA through 28 starts.
It’s tantalizing to think about sliding Valdez up to the front of a Cubs starting rotation that already boasts names such as Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd and backups in the form of Ben Brown, Javier Assad, and Colin Rea. A team with postseason aspirations can never have too much pitching and Valdez would be a wildly bold asset to add for the playoffs and for the playoff push.
The Cost Of The Trade
On the down side, of course, would be the cost involved in bringing him aboard.
VonScio’s assessment of Valdez going for two top-15 prospects is probably right on the money. The Cubs might have to even part with one of their precious top-5 youngsters if a bidding war erupts, as it most likely will.
Then, Valdez will probably be gone. Spotrac is estimating that he’ll be headed towards a 3-year, $70.7 million deal, which will most likely be too rich for the Cubs’ taste, especially if they intend on trying to extend right fielder Kyle Tucker, who is also headed into free agency at the end of the 2025 season.
If the Chicago Cubs do end up trading for Framber Valdez, it would be the third deal made between the teams during the 2025 run. Tucker was acquired from the Astros in December of 2024 and reliever Ryan Pressly was acquired in January.
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