Position: IF
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 191 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 12/28/1998
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2015 (Astros)
How Acquired: Trade (from Red Sox for Joe Vogatsky)
Bonus: $450,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 1
Overview
Valdez is a short, left-handed hitting infielder who has some power but may or may not make good enough contact consistently. He strikes out moderately often and hasn’t walked much at the major league level. He’s had huge platoon splits in the majors and minors, so he probably needs to be platooned. Statcast rates his speed as well below-average, and arm and range near bottom-level. That should limit him to second in the majors, where Statcast rates him below average. That’s where he’s played in almost all of his major league team. He’s played a fair amount of third in the minors, and a little at short and in the outfield. The Pirates acquired Valdez from Boston in a trade for Joe Vogatsky.
2016-20
Valdez’ first four seasons after Houston signed him were uninspiring without being terrible. He had a .780 OPS in the DSL in 2016, then .746 in the then-GCL in 2017 and .420 in the New York-Penn League in 2018. In 2019, he started hitting in low A, posting a 275/374/442 line in 33 games. After a promotion to high A, he had only a .602 OPS in 67 games. He didn’t play in 2020.
2021-22
According to Baseball America, Valdez learned to wait on pitches better and he responded with 26 home runs, 21 of them in 75 games in high A and another five in AA. Overall, he posted a 255/326/534 line.
In 2022, Valdez really broke out, posting a 357/463/649 line in 44 games in AA, with 11 home runs. The Astros moved him up to AAA and he hit 296/347/560, with ten longballs in 38 games. At the 2022 deadline, Houston included Valdez in a deadline trade with Boston for Christian Valdez. Valdez cooled off some in AAA with the Red Sox, but still hit seven more home runs, giving him 28, with 107 RBIs, on the season.
2023-24
Valdez spent 2023 and 2024 shuttling back and forth between AAA and Boston. He put up good but not great numbers in AAA: an .864 OPS in 2023 and .776 in 2024. He hit well in his first try with the Sox, batting 266/311/453 in 2023. In 2024, though, he was the Sox’ most-used second baseman but hit only 214/270/363.
Boston designated Valdez for assignment to clear roster space in December 2024. The Pirates acquired him a few days later for Joe Vogatsky. He has one option left.
Stats
Transactions
July 2, 2015: Signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent.
August 1, 2022: Traded by the Houston Astros with Wilyer Abreu to the Boston Red Sox for Christian Vazquez.
November 10, 2022: Contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox.
December 15, 2024: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joe Vogatsky.