Eight Astros Reach Settlement Without Arbitration; Framber Valdez Secures Alleged $18 Million Deal
The Houston Astros reached agreements on one-year deals for all eight of their players eligible for arbitration on Thursday, including standout left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez.
The team did not disclose the financial details, but sources report that Valdez will earn $18 million in 2025.
The other seven players who avoided arbitration were right-hander Bryan Abreu and Luis Garcia, infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubon, outfielder Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers, infielder Isaac Paredes, and shortstop Jeremy Pena.
Thursday marked the deadline for unsigned arbitration-eligible players and teams to exchange salary figures.
Valdez, 31, is a two-time All-Star and has emerged as the ace of Houston's pitching staff in recent years. He threw a no-hitter with just one walk against the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 and came within one out of another no-hitter against the Texas Rangers in August 2024.
In 2024, Valdez had a record of 15-7 with an ERA of 2.91 in 28 starts. He struck out 169 batters and walked 55 in 176 1/3 innings. Throughout his seven seasons in the major leagues, all with the Astros, he has a record of 68-41 with an ERA of 3.30 in 157 games (135 starts). He received votes for both the American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player in 2024.
Paredes, 25, was acquired by the Astros from the Cubs last month in a trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago. Paredes has a career batting average of .232 with 72 home runs and 234 RBIs in 464 games with the Detroit Tigers (2020-21), Tampa Bay Rays (2022-24), and Cubs (2024).
Meyers, Dubon, McCormick, and Pena were all either full-time or part-time starters for the Astros in 2024. Pena started in 157 games at shortstop and ranked fourth on the team in RBIs (70) and sixth in home runs (15). Meyers contributed 13 home runs and 61 RBIs in 148 games.
