Tigers Sign Framber Valdez in Late Offseason Splash

Framber Valdez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher born on November 19, 1993, in Palenque, San Cristóbal Province, Dominican Republic. He signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2015 and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2018. Valdez quickly became a key member of the Astros' starting rotation, known for his durability and consistent performance on the mound[1][4]. Valdez earned the nickname "La Grasa" for his distinctive fashion style. His breakout year came in 2022 when he was named the Astros' Opening Day starter, selected as an MLB All-Star for the first time, and chosen for the All-MLB First Team. During that season, he set an MLB record with 25 consecutive in-season quality starts. That year, he played a pivotal role in helping the Astros win the World Series, pitching effectively in both Game 2 and the decisive Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies[1]. Over his MLB career through the 2025 season, Valdez has accumulated a win-loss record of 81-52 with a 3.36 ERA and over 1,050 strikeouts in more than 1,080 innings pitched. He has continued to maintain high performance levels, earning multiple All-Star selections (2022, 2023) and being recognized as the Astros' Pitcher of the Year in 2020 and 2023. He was also named to the All-MLB Second Team in 2024[2][5]. Off the field, Valdez is known for his commitment to his community, notably fulfilling a personal promise by investing approximately $100,000 of his own money to build a church in his hometown. He has expressed that this project is a deeply personal and spiritual endeavor rather than a business transaction[7]. As of the 2025 MLB season, Valdez remains an active and influential starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, contributing significantly to their competitive success[3][6].

Tarik Skubal is an American professional baseball pitcher, currently serving as the ace of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on November 20, 1996, in Hayward, California, Skubal was raised in Kingman, Arizona. He played college baseball at Seattle University, where he set multiple school records including lowest opponent batting average and most strikeouts per nine innings. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft and made his major league debut on August 18, 2020[2][3][4][6]. Skubal’s career breakthrough came in the 2024 season, when he achieved the pitching Triple Crown by leading the American League (AL) in wins (18), earned run average (ERA) (2.39), and strikeouts (238). This outstanding performance earned him the AL Cy Young Award unanimously, with all 30 first-place votes, recognizing him as the best pitcher in the league. His 6.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) was also the highest in MLB that year. He was also named to the All-MLB First Team and won several monthly and weekly awards during the season[1][2][4][5]. In 2025, Skubal has continued to excel, improving his statistics with a 5-2 record, 2.16 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR by midseason, positioning himself among the top pitchers in baseball and earning All-Star selections in both 2024 and 2025[1][4][5]. Known for his strong left-handed pitching and resilience overcoming early career injuries—including Tommy John surgery during college—Skubal has established himself as a dominant force in MLB, playing a key role in the Detroit Tigers’ competitive status[2][3][4].