There’s a saying in baseball: you can never have too much pitching. While teams like the Baltimore Orioles could truly require a prime pitcher, the Toronto Blue Jays believe adding another arm is never a bad idea. With what Nick Gosse of the Jays Digest requested the Jays, the latter just might become reality, leaving the Orioles empty-handed.

“At this point, the only real starting pitcher that’s worth going after if you’re the Jays is Framber Valdez because you do have an abundance of starting pitchers now,”

Gosse broke down the next target for the Blue Jays.

One can argue the Blue Jays already have more than enough starting pitching. With Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Cody Ponce, and newly-acquired Dylan Cease and Tyler Rogers, there’s no shortage of arms in Toronto. Still, Gosse believes there’s room for Framber Valdez in that mix. And honestly, it’s hard to rule the Jays out.

Since the Jays struck out on Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, there’s still plenty of money left to play with. 

Spotrac currently projects Valdez’s market value at about $33 million AAV, with a potential deal landing around six years and roughly $200 million.

Considering the Jays were willing to spend $400 million on Kyle Tucker, or bring Bo Bichette at $200 million, the money for Valdez is clearly there.

And the performance backs up the interest.

In 2025, Valdez logged a 3.66 ERA over 192 innings, struck out 187 batters, and made 31 starts, about as dependable as it gets.

But here’s the twist: the Orioles are lurking around the $18-million free agent pitcher.

According to Ken Rosenthal, Baltimore is very much in the Valdez sweepstakes as well. They have Kyle Bradish as their current ace, but durability is a real concern. Trevor Rogers looked like an ace last season, yet he comes with his own injury questions. Dean Kremer could form depth, yet none profile as true frontliners.

Earlier, Baltimore scouted Freddy Peralta. However, with him and MacKenzie Gore taken off the market, the Orioles still lack that rock-solid ace you need to win a World Series. Valdez, a proven World Series champion, checks that box. But there’s a catch.

Valdez is asking for a long-term contract of around 168 million dollars over 6 years. Such a commitment would exceed previous pitching deals Baltimore has approved under the current leadership. If Valdez is taken off the market, too, the Orioles could go after Zac Gallen for a proven and cheaper pitcher. However, his entry could be a gamble.

One way the Orioles could resolve their Valdez money problem is if the team offers fewer years while also keeping his AAV high. This will not only allow them flexibility but also cater to what Valdez is looking for. So now, it will be a divisional tug-of-war. However, the Orioles won’t be the only hurdle for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays have multi-dimensional challenges

It’s not just the Orioles complicating matters for the Blue Jays in the Framber Valdez sweepstakes. There’s another serious contender in the mix: the Padres. And unlike Toronto, San Diego actually needs the pitching help.

The Padres do have Joe Musgrove, but he’s coming back from a Tommy John surgery. They’re also banking on Nick Pivetta to recreate his 2025 heroics, which is far from a sure thing, and while Michael King is in the picture, we all know how brutal it is to survive a 162-game season with thin depth. So, that’s where Valdez fits perfectly.

He wouldn’t just raise the ceiling on that rotation, but also provide a much-needed safety net.

The big question, though, again, is money. Valdez is expected to command a massive deal, and while the Padres may want him badly, can they really go dollar-for-dollar with the Blue Jays? That’s where things get interesting, and where the doubts start to creep in.