The 2025 season felt like one giant farewell tour for Framber Valdez's time with the Houston Astros. Before the end of July, it seemed that Valdez was all but ready for life after the Astros, and then the infamous cross-up incident with Cesar Salazar suggested that the feeling may have been mutual. Valdez will become a free agent within the next week, and the consensus being that he won't be back with the Astros. However, a return may not be completely ruled out.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden emptied his free-agent notebook earlier this week, naming his top 50 free agents while also circling the best fits and contract projections.