The Astros extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to Valdez on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Valdez is expected to decline the offer and pursue a significantly larger deal as a free agent this offseason. Thursday's move ensures the Astros will receive a compensatory draft pick if Valdez does not return to Houston. He logged a 3.66 ERA and a 187:68 K:BB across 192 innings in 2025, and the soon-to-be 32-year-old has now thrown at least 175 innings in four consecutive campaigns.