Rangers listed as dark horse to land division rival southpaw this offseason

Could one of the Rangers' rival star pitchers become a member of the Texas rotation in 2026?

That's exactly what could be the case for the Rangers to be the dark horse contender in landing the services of lefty free free agent Framber Valdez next season. With top-of-the-rotation kind of stuff, Valdez is going to get paid by someone, and there is a strong case to be made for him ending up in Arlington for the 2026 season.

Even though he has been an archenemy of the Rangers over the past several seasons, pitching for the division rival Houston Astros, if the team could somehow land Valdez, most fans would be willing to welcome the inning-eating ace with open arms.

Framber Valdez has a championship-level pedigree

Last season, Valdez had his worst season as a starter, going 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP as Houston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Valdez has been a major contributor to the winning culture in Houston, compiling an 81-52 record while posting a sparkling 3.36 ERA.

The hard-throwing lefty with one of the best change-up strikeout pitches in the majors racked up 187 strikeouts and just 68 walks in 192 innings.

He has been the anchor of Houston's staff, which has been one of the best in baseball for close to a decade, and was the workhorse when they won the World Series in 2022.

Why the Rangers could be viewed as a dark horse to land Valdez's services

Valdez appeared frustrated at times last season with his battery mates making headlines for intentionally crossing up his own catcher after giving up a big home run. It could be indicative of something larger with owner Jim Crane and the organization. The Astros will likely make an earnest effort to keep Valdez, but it could be that the pitcher is ready for a fresh start somewhere else.

By signing with the Rangers, Valdez would be able to continue to avoid paying state income tax while not moving far away from family and friends in Houston.

Valdez will not come cheaply. Last season, he made $18 million, and his market value is listed at $33 million but the state income tax exemption would allow the Rangers to offer more in net salary than their competitors.

He would look good in a Ranger uniform, pitching in a rotation that will tentatively have guys like Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter in the fold.