CASHING IN
Why avoiding arbitration with Framber Valdez is a sign of good things to come for Astros
Jan 16, 2023, 5:52 pm
Framber Valdez will earn $6.8 million in 2023. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Houston Astros whiff on primary free agent target
The Houston Astros avoided arbitration with six players on Friday, one of which was first-year All-Star and left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez.
Houston and Valdez agreed to a one-year, $6.8 million deal for 2023. The Dominican Republic native is coming off his best season yet for the Astros, going 17-6 in his starts during the regular season with a 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 194 strikeouts.
His numbers only continued to be stellar in the postseason as he led the Astros to their second World Series title in franchise history. Valdez, who is 29 years old, has been with the Astros since the 2018 season, and he has shown improvement after each year.
With both sides being able to reach an agreement on a deal, unlike with right fielder Kyle Tucker and starting pitcher Cristian Javier, it could be a positive sign of things to come, and here is why.
Unlike with Tucker and Javier, who according to MLB.com both sides are just off when it comes to what fair value is following each respective player’s 2022 season, the Astros and Valdez were in agreement on what both believed was a fair deal.
Valdez’ 2023 salary will be more than double what he was paid in 2022. With the Astros losing Justin Verlander in the offseason to the New York Mets, Valdez will likely be the team’s No. 1 ace in the new season.
With both sides being on the same page, it shows one, there is mutual respect, and two, it makes it more likely that long-term negotiations could play out the same way. If Valdez and his representation can continue to be in constant communication with the Astros, while being in agreement, there will be less incentive to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Houston has shown in the past that they are willing to offer extensions to players they're in agreement with before they can hit the open market. The Astros did it with second baseman Jose Altuve years ago in 2013.
The team did it again in 2019 with Alex Bregman, and it also did it in 2021 with Lance McCullers Jr., which is arguably the most comparable situation with that of Valdez.
In comparison, the Astros’ situation with Carlos Correa in 2021 played out differently when both sides were negotiating and there was much more disagreement on what fair value was. Correa left the team in free agency the following year.
While not every situation plays out the same way, history is on the side that favors both Valdez and the Astros coming to a long-term agreement that keeps the pitcher out of the open market. One thing is certain, Valdez will be looking to prove that he is worth being an ace for a perennial World Series contender.
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Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.
The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.
For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.
“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”
As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.
Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.
He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.
Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.
It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.
You can watch the full interview in the video below.
And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.
I’ve seen some speculation indicating that Joe Mixon may not be happy the Texans signed Nick Chubb. If that is what you believe, watch this clip from an interview with @greenlight pod last year & get back to me. pic.twitter.com/3vaip85esj
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 11, 2025
*ChatGPT assisted.
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