Orioles competition for Framber Valdez feels like a golden opportunity

The song and dance of "will they or won't they" figures to follow the Baltimore Orioles for a little bit longer, considering Framber Valdez remains available. Valdez opened the offseason with the reputation of being the best starting pitcher on the free-agent market, but teams have passed him over except for the Orioles. The Orioles remain connected to Valdez, but they don't appear to be in a rush to sign the former Houston Astros ace.

By now, everyone knows Valdez's story. He was one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball during his time with the Astros, and his stuff projects in a way that should keep him effective into his later years. The rub is that he is a problem child. When he isn't calling out his own team's coaching staff, he's intentionally crossing up his catcher.

While most are quick to say that performance trumps all character concerns, Valdez seems to be making the case to be the exception. That being said, outside of the Dodgers, teams have always been reluctant about paying a pitcher in his mid-30s the type of money Valdez was project land.

Even the most skeptical projections had Valdez landing $150 million, but the expectation was that his deal would approach $200 million.

Orioles may have perfect shot at Framber Valdez if competition stays quiet

We're at the point of the offseason where even the skeptical projections might be optimistic. Most teams seem to be shying away from the red flags that surround Valdez's profile, and that is why MLB.com's Mark Feinsand's latest update feels like a guessing game. The MLB insider lists several teams that could be an option for Valdez, but the only one that makes the most sense is the Orioles.

At some point, there's going to be a team that bites. Again, Valdez's performance on the mound isn't the question. It's the risk that he might cut a WWE-style promo on his own team after just the slightest inconvenience.

But, for now, assuming the Orioles are the only team bidding with intent, they are in a great spot. Baltimore can swoop in and sign him to a modest deal, but certainly not the one that was suggested in November. It addressed their need for a frontline starting pitcher while limiting the risks as much as possible, considering Valdez could, well, implode at any moment.