The Houston Astros have officially extended a qualifying offer to free agent left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Dana Brown on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Valdez completed his eighth Major League season with the Astros in 2025. He posted a 13-11 record and a 3.66 ERA in 31 starts. He led the team in wins and innings pitched, while finishing fifth in the AL in Pitching WAR (4.3), tied for fifth in quality starts (20), sixth in innings (192.0), and tied for sixth in wins.
In his eight seasons with the Astros (2018-25), Valdez has gone 81-52 with a 3.36 ERA in 188 games, including 166 starts, and has been named an American League All-Star twice (2022, 2023). Valdez ranks 10th all-time in club history in wins and strikeouts (1,053) and ranks second in wins and strikeouts among franchise lefties.
The deadline for Major League Baseball clubs to extend qualifying offers to their players entering free agency was Thursday at 4 p.m. The deadline for players to accept or decline the qualifying offer is Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.
The Astros did not extend qualifying offers to any other eligible players.
Houston also outrighted four players off their 40-man roster, including pitcher Luis Garcia, outfielder Chas McCormick, pitcher John Rooney, and outfielder Kenedy Corona.
In six seasons with the Astros, Garcia went 29-19 with a 3.60 ERA and 371 strikeouts and helped the team win the 2022 World Series. He missed all of the 2024 season due to injury. He made only two starts in an injury-shortened 2025 season.
In five seasons with the Astros, McCormick batted .247 with 56 home runs and 156 RBI. McCormick made a memorable catch off the wall during Game 5 of the 2022 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
All four players cleared waivers on Thursday and are now eligible for free agency. Additionally, outfielder Pedro León was claimed off waivers by Baltimore.
