The Blue Jays' pursuit of pitching talent continues, with a potential focus on left-handed starter Framber Valdez. After missing out on Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, the team met with Valdez at the GM meetings in November, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. However, the Jays' interest in Valdez is not clear, as they are already over the luxury tax line with their current payroll. With a projected rotation of Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Cody Ponce, Valdez may be more of a want than a need for Toronto. Despite this, Valdez has a strong track record, with 16.5 fWAR from 2022-25 and a durable pitching style. The market has been solid for pitchers looking for long-term deals, and Valdez should do better than Tatsuya Imai in terms of AAV. However, the Jays' ability to fit Valdez into their payroll is uncertain, and the team may need to make some tough decisions to stay within the luxury tax line.
