Mets’ Framber Valdez rumors show where New York stands after Tatsuya Imai signed with Houston

The New York Mets still need to add starting pitching, but it’s increasingly unclear whether that will come from them signing an ace. 

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, even a pitcher as good as Framber Valdez may not be in the works for David Stearns and the Mets.

“The Mets still need starting pitching, but sources said the club wasn’t sold on Imai as an impact starter,” Feinsand wrote. “President of baseball operations David Stearns has shied away from signing pitchers for more than three years, which would have made Imai an ideal target had he felt strongly about his ability to make a successful move to the Majors. The top starters out there -- namely Valdez and Suárez -- are likely to command longer-term deals, so it remains to be seen whether Stearns will go all-in for one of them or look elsewhere, possibly the trade market.”

Valdez is a proven ace with postseason experience, above-average stuff, and the ability to be an ace in a rotation that clearly needs one. 

On the mound, he seems to be the type of player the Mets would want. Off the field, however, he’d be expensive and require a long-term deal, which Stearns might not want to do.

Valdez seems to have a somewhat weird market at the moment, but with Imai signing, it should start to heat up soon. Even if the Mets aren’t involved, another contender should be.

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