Houston Astros Could Have Made a Huge Mistake by Not Trading Their Star Pitcher

Houston Astros May Regret Not Trading Star Pitcher Framber Valdez

The Houston Astros made a significant decision this offseason to hold onto one of their key players, but that choice could be coming back to haunt them.

After a busy offseason full of major roster changes, the Astros saw some long-time faces leave, including Alex Bregman heading to the Boston Red Sox and Kyle Tucker being traded to the Chicago Cubs. While those departures were tough, they made sense at the time.

When Tucker was traded, it seemed like the Astros might be entering a rebuilding phase, but instead, they opted to retool and stay competitive, keeping most of their core intact.

One player who was rumored to be on the trading block after Tucker’s departure was right-handed pitcher Framber Valdez. Despite being a free agent after the 2024 season, Valdez had just come off the best year of his career and continued to perform at a high level entering 2025.

However, Valdez has struggled in two of his last three starts, with his performance in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday being one of the worst of his career. In just four innings, he allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs, causing his ERA to skyrocket from 2.50 to 4.91.

While one poor start could be dismissed as a bad outing, if this becomes a trend, the Astros could be in serious trouble. After choosing not to trade Valdez this offseason, it was assumed that he could be dealt at the trade deadline if his performance took a downturn. However, if his struggles continue, no team would likely be willing to offer a significant trade package for a pitcher performing poorly in the final year of his contract.

Had the Astros traded him this offseason, his value would have been at its peak, potentially bringing in a top prospect in return. Now, if Valdez’s struggles persist, the market for him could shrink dramatically, and the Astros may find themselves stuck with a pitcher they could have traded for much more earlier in the year.

If the Astros remain competitive and Valdez finds his rhythm again, the decision to keep him could look justified, especially if he leaves after the season. But if his struggles continue, and the team is forced to either keep him or trade him for a minimal return, the Astros could regret not dealing him when they had the chance.