Looking ahead to the offseason a bit, most of the attention from Houston Astros fans when it comes to pending free agents has been on Framber Valdez. It is hard to argue with that focus, given that the loss of the Astros' star lefty is going to be a void that is going to be exceedingly difficult to fill, especially when you look at the rest of the free agent class and how much Houston is likely to spend. However, Valdez isn't even the free agent the Astros need to bring back the most.
Not spending as much as Valdez is going to command as a free agent when he is going to be a 32-year-old pitcher on Opening Day 2026 is very defensible, if painful.