The New York Mets entered the winter knowing exactly what had gone missing in 2025. They had talent, they had stretches of strong play, and they had moments when they looked like a postseason lock. What they did not have was a true number one starter who could steady the rotation when things tightened. That void proved costly as the Mets stumbled out of the playoff picture late in the season. Now, with the offseason underway, the front office appears ready to aggressively address that issue.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Mets may have already identified the centerpiece of their pitching blueprint. Bowden believes the club will set its sights on Houston Astros left hander Framber Valdez, one of the most reliable big game starters available on the market. In fact, he projects that New York will land Valdez on a confirmed framework of seven years and two hundred eighteen million dollars, a deal that would instantly reshape the top of the Mets rotation.
Bowden notes that Valdez brings exactly the qualities New York lacked in 2025. He is a proven postseason performer, a pitcher with the poise to handle pressure and the command to generate both strikeouts and heavy groundball contact. Bowden argues that those traits make him a seamless fit for Queens and exactly the kind of pitcher capable of anchoring a rotation for years.
The interest in Valdez will be substantial. With Dylan Cease already off the board after signing a seven year two hundred ten million dollar contract with Toronto, teams in need of a frontline starter have pivoted quickly toward the Astros ace. Valdez stands out not only for his track record but for a style that should hold up well as he ages. He does not depend solely on overpowering velocity but instead leans on movement, command, and a high groundball rate.
Owner Steve Cohen has shown again and again that if the Mets decide they want someone, they rarely lose the bidding. Should New York push forward, the seven year two hundred eighteen million dollar agreement Bowden outlines looks entirely realistic, and it would deliver the ace the Mets have been searching for.