Framber Valdez is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher who signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He's spent his career with the Houston Astros, though he declined their qualifying offer to enter free agency.
On the surface, Valdez looks deserving of the large term and dollar amount he's likely to receive in free agency. The two-time All-Star ranks sixth among all starting pitchers in fWAR (20.6), fifth in innings pitched (973), tied for first in wins, and 10th in total strikeouts (951) since the start of the 2020 season as a member of the Houston Astros.