With Framber Valdez, the only top free agent left in the basket, many teams, like the Orioles, are looking at him. But there is one other team that has had a very bad offseason. The Toronto Blue Jays, after losing out on Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette over the span of a few days, are now very interested in Framber Valdez.
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As reported by Underdog MLB, “Heyman: Blue Jays among teams interested in Framber Valdez.”
Framber Valdez remains the best unsigned starting pitcher as spring training nears, with only he and Zac Gallen still on the free‑agent market among top arms.
Valdez has a 3.36 career ERA over eight seasons and 1080⅔ innings, solidifying him as a top starter left on the board. In 2025, he made 31 starts with a 13‑11 record, 3.66 ERA, and 187 strikeouts across 192.0 innings.
Teams have shown hesitation, with Valdez entering free agency after a widely publicized pitch that hit his catcher, a mix‑up that drew character commentary. Observers note that this incident and a late‑season stretch of a 5.20 ERA over his final 12 starts may have slowed his market.
Many analysts suggest the catcher incident with César Salazar has weighed on Valdez’s free agency, with some highlighting it as a reason for his prolonged unsigned status.
Commentary in recent coverage pointed out that intentionality questions negatively impacted team interest late in the offseason despite his 192.0 innings and 3.8 WAR in 2025. Valdez’s cross‑up happened after a grand slam and visibly hit his catcher, which generated both speculation and media buzz.
While Astros insiders defended his character, the prolonged free agency supports the idea that teams are cautious. Left‑handed starters of Valdez’s calibre rarely remain unsigned this late, making his situation unusual.
Heyman: Blue Jays among teams interested in Framber Valdez.
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) February 4, 2026
Now, major contenders like the Toronto Blue Jays are among teams linked to Valdez, signaling interest despite his uncertain market.
Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman reported Toronto as one of the clubs showing interest in signing Valdez, representing a big club chase.
The Blue Jays already signed Dylan Cease and others this winter, but still pursue premium pitching. Adding Valdez would balance their rotation, which is heavily right‑handed without another lefty. Toronto would also give up draft compensation because Framber Valdez declined a qualifying offer from Houston.
The Blue Jays’ interest grows after missing out on impact position players like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette during free agency, leaving offensive upgrades scarce. With Toronto’s offense locked in largely from 2025 talent, the front office turn edits focus to pitching depth instead.
Valdez’s ground‑ball skill set fits Toronto’s defensive profile, as he induced grounders at an elite rate, the highest among regular starters since 2020. His 192.0 innings in 2025 were among the league’s best, trailing only a handful of arms like Kevin Gausman.
This appeals to a team that struggled to rotate lefty arms last season and seeks balance.
With Shane Bieber opting into his $16M player option for 2026, the rotation picture in Toronto shifted, but his role may evolve if Valdez signs.
Bieber posted a 3.57 ERA in 40.1 regular‑season innings in 2025 after returning from Tommy John surgery, showing he can still contribute. Bieber’s experience complements but does not overshadow Valdez’s innings‑eating ability.
Valdez’s consistency over 175+ innings in four straight seasons gives him slight edge over Bieber’s more limited action post‑surgery. The Jays could slot Valdez into the rotation while thinking creatively about shifting Bieber’s innings to preserve bullpen depth.
Even though Valdez’s numbers are strong, the Toronto Blue Jays might hesitate because clubhouse culture matters deeply to the team’s identity.
Fans and analysts echo concerns that volatility after the catcher incident could disrupt team chemistry, a core value spoken about within Jays circles. Toronto’s rotation already includes reliable arms like Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios, meaning Framber Valdez doesn’t fill an empty spot but adds nuance.
Balancing Valdez’s elite ground‑ball skills with clubhouse harmony will be important as the Toronto Blue Jays decide. If missteps recur, such issues could derail team cohesion and ultimately the season.
The Blue Jays are planning to add another relief pitcher
Toronto’s bullpen looks like a five-star kitchen, well-stocked but still missing that secret ingredient to turn it into a Michelin-level unit, and the front office knows it. After upgrading with Cease, Okamoto, Rogers, and Ponce, the Blue Jays are quietly circling a proven arm to lock down late innings and make their 2026 run bulletproof.
The Toronto Blue Jays could still add bullpen help because late‑inning pitching wins tight playoff games, and arms like Romero are rare on the market.
Toronto’s recent additions improved rotation depth and relief flexibility, but a proven left‑handed reliever would make their 2026 push more durable in high-leverage situations.
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JoJo Romero threw 61 innings with a 2.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 2025, showing real run prevention across 65 games as a reliever. Fans saw him neutralize threats, holding opponents to limited damage while notching 8 saves and 24 holds.
His groundball tendencies and left‑handed delivery make him useful against tough left‑handed bats late in games.
A trade for Romero would give the bullpen a reliable lefty in tight spots, something that helps protect narrow leads in September. His affordable ~$4.26M salary for 2026 adds cost‑controlled value, making the move logical.
With Toronto already pitching well and chasing another title, Romero’s strong 2025 performance backs his fit.