Houston missed the playoffs for the first time in years, setting the stage for a pivotal winter. Framber Valdez looms as the crown jewel of any Astros offseason, with free agency a real possibility that could reshape Houston’s rotation.

Valdez logged a 13-11 mark in 2025 with a 3.66 ERA across 31 starts and 192 innings, fanning 187 while issuing 68 walks. His Sept. 25 outing versus Oakland—seven innings, one run, 10 strikeouts—was a reminder of his upside as a workhorse ace on the open market.

Three teams surfaced as plausible fits: the Cubs, Mets and Orioles. Each would covet a top-of-rotation arm to anchor a postseason push in 2026. Valdez’s clubhouse drama and a quirky incident with Cesar Salazar aren’t helping the Astros’ bid to keep him, and any destination would pursue a contender-ready ace in a thin free-agent market.

Houston’s dynasty collapsed as 2025 ended without a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. Departures, payroll hesitancy, and a spate of injuries left the Astros unprepared to sustain their title core. The Guardians’ walk-off on Sept. 27 sealed a symbolic end to the Luhnow-Hinch era, while booing of Springer, Altuve and Bregman underscored the fan base’s sense of a once-dominant window closed. Rebuild questions now dominate Houston’s outlook for 2026.

Framber Valdez's bold 93-mph fastball after a Grisham grand slam sparks debate about clubhouse leadership and offseason leverage. One MLB club reportedly cooled talks, which could help Houston hold onto Valdez as free agency narrows. Valdez remains a core of Houston's rotation alongside Hunter Brown, carrying a 12-9 record with a 3.42 ERA and 171 Ks, keeping fantasy managers attentive to his durability and workload.

For fantasy, Valdez's mix and endurance maintain allure, even as the scandalous moment fuels chatter about loyalties and market value. Houston's stance—if they want him back—could shift late-season decisions and impact how investors in the Astros' staff view the pitching depth down the stretch.

Padres chase Framber Valdez in free agency as they look to fortify a rotation that could lose Dylan Cease and Michael King. Valdez, dominant since 2020, would bring a steady blend of wins and innings, aligning with San Diego's history of bold roster moves. Front-office chatter notes a shadow of risk after a miscommunication-crossup with Cesar Salazar that could affect how executives view Valdez’s long-term fit. Other suitors include Boston, San Francisco, Texas, Baltimore and Detroit, signaling a crowded market and value-driven decision for fantasy managers.

If Valdez signs with the Padres, Cease and King could see their fantasy upside shift dramatically depending on how San Diego structures its payroll and rotation depth. Ownership’s willingness to spend remains a talking point in fantasy circles as they weigh Valdez’s durability and postseason pedigree against potential volatility in a high-stakes market.