New Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker smiles during a baseball press conference at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Framber Valdez Trade Rumors Begin Amid Astros’ Early Struggles
On the one hand, it might be too early to suggest Houston Astros fans are in panic mode. After all, we’re only 10 games into a 162-game regular season. Then again, the Astros are 2.5 games behind Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels.
Suddenly, the panicking makes sense. We’re not sure if we can say the same about Astros fans questioning whether the team will trade All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez. Astros insider Brian McTaggart recently published a mailbag, with one question especially standing out. X (formerly Twitter) user @houstonorbits asked McTaggart if he believes the Astros will trade Valdez even if the team has a chance at winning the AL West. We apologize to New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers fans, but McTaggart doesn’t see the Astros parting ways with the 31-year-old
Valdez anytime soon-especially if the ‘Stros find their footing and regain their winning ways. “The club believes it can still contend for a playoff spot in the American League West this year, and they’ll need an effective Valdez to reach the postseason again,” McTaggart replied. Valdez split his first two starts, allowing five runs and posting a 13-6 K-BB ratio over 12 innings. The two-time All-Star finalist went 55-30 with a 3.08 ERA and 13.5 bWAR across 710.1 innings from 2021-24. Unfortunately for Valdez, he’s not on track to earn much run support in the coming weeks. Houston entered Tuesday with the fourth-lowest batting average (.202), and their 30 runs scored are tied for second-worst in the majors.
No one will argue the Astros are beginning a transitional period. Houston dealt star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs and moved longtime second baseman Jose Altuve to left field.
However, McTaggart doesn’t see the Astros even considering trading Valdez if they have a chance at their ninth consecutive playoff appearance. “[T]rading Valdez in-season while in contention would be like waving the white flag,” McTaggart wrote. Of course, things could theoretically change if the Astros enter July with a losing record. Valdez can hit free agency this winter and certainly appeals to a team seeking pitching depth.
Astros pitcher suffers brutal fluke injury during batting practice
The Houston Astros haven’t had a great start to the 2025 campaign, as they have just a 4-6 record through their first 10 games. And now, they are watching their own players suffer crazy fluke injuries, as starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti is set to miss an extended period of time after breaking his thumb while playing catch in the outfield ahead of the Astros’ Monday night contest against the Seattle Marines.
Arrighetti made his major league debut in 2024, and while he posted a mediocre 4.53 earned run average, he flashed his potential on several occasions, finishing the season with 171 strikeouts over 145 innings of work. Arrighetti gave up six earned runs in 9.2 innings over his first two starts of the year, but he’s now set to be sidelined after his throwing hand got hit by a line drive that a Mariners player hit during batting practice on Monday night.
“RHP Spencer Arrighetti suffered a broken right thumb this afternoon after being hit by a line drive while playing catch in left field at T-Mobile Park,” the Astros said in an official statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
