Full details of Framber Valdez’s record-breaking contract with Tigers revealed

For years, Detroit Tigers fans have watched other big-market contenders weaponize creativity: deferred money, opt-outs, escalators, and incentive structures that push payroll flexibility into future windows. Now, in 2026, Detroit is finally playing that game.

Framber Valdez’s three-year, $115 million contract is the richest free-agent deal for a pitcher in franchise history — and it comes with modern architecture to match. The southpaw will earn $37.5 million in each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons, plus $35 million in 2028 if he declines to opt out.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Of his 2026 salary, $20 million will be classified as a signing bonus and deferred, with payments beginning in 2030. That maneuver lowers the immediate payroll burden while keeping Detroit competitive in the present.

For a franchise that historically operated conservatively in free agency, this is a philosophical shift. Deferred money has been a tool used aggressively by teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, and now the Tigers are finally signaling they’re willing to bend the timeline to maximize a competitive window — especially while Tarik Skubal remains in his prime.

Tigers finally get with the times and weaponize deferred money in Framber Valdez deal

Valdez's contract also carries a mutual option for 2029 valued at $40 million, which includes a $5 million buyout. Realistically, it functions as a structural placeholder rather than a likely outcome. The deal also includes several performance escalators, including $2 million each for a Cy Young win and World Series MV, $1 million each for second place in Cy Young voting and ALCS MVP, and $500,000 for third place in Cy Young voting.

Because Houston extended a qualifying offer to Valdez, Detroit will surrender its third-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, while the Astros receive pick No. 134 overall under MLB’s compensation formula. That's not insignificant, but it's the price of spending like a contender.

This deal also pairs Valdez with Tarik Skubal at the top of the rotation and gives Detroit a legitimate postseason-caliber one-two punch. But just as important as the on-field upgrade is the structural evolution.

Deferred money, opt-outs, escalators, strategic flexibility — finally, the Tigers aren't just spending. They're structuring. For a franchise that has often lagged behind the league’s financial creativity, this contract represents something larger than one pitcher.

It’s Detroit finally getting with the times — and betting that its championship window is open right now.