It’s been six days since Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez crossed up his rookie catcher, Cesar Salazar, and the fallout is still revealing itself.
The New York Yankees loaded the bases in the fifth inning Tuesday against Valdez at Houston’s Daikin Park. Salazar called for a pitch to Trent Grisham. The rookie catcher then appeared to motion to Valdez to step off the mound.
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Valdez threw the pitch anyway, and Grisham hit it for a grand slam.
There’s speculation that Astros pitcher Framber Valdez purposely crossed up his catcher Cesar Salazar and hit him with this pitch after Salazar told him to step off before allowing a grand slam pic.twitter.com/ds3c9MzQV6
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 3, 2025
Valdez’s next pitch, to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, broke to the right. Salazar initially moved his glove to his left — often a sign that the catcher believed his pitcher was going to throw a different pitch. The 93-mph sinker hit Salazar in his midsection.
Houston Astros/Getty Images
If the cross-up was unintentional, Valdez’s body language did not show it. He turned his back to the catcher, rather than immediately check to see if Salazar was OK.
According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Astros manager Joe Espada called Valdez and Salazar into his office after the game to discuss the matter. Valdez denied that he crossed up Salazar intentionally; so did the catcher, who was starting his 14th major league game.
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Several retired players have questioned the credibility of Valdez’s explanation in the days since. Apparently, so have major league executives.
Valdez is a free agent at the end of this season. On paper, he’s the kind of pitcher teams would love to sign: a two-time All-Star with one championship and seven postseason wins on his resume, to go with a 3.32 ERA (125 ERA+) over the last eight regular seasons.
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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, however, at least one team is crossing Valdez off its free agency wish list in light of last week’s incident.
“Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez’s stunt, in which he intentionally crossed up his own catcher or at the least simply didn’t care that he hit him in the chest with his fastball, could cost Valdez millions in free agency,” Nightengale wrote Sunday. “One scout said their organization already crossed Valdez off their list of free agent candidates after the incident.”
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The season isn’t over, and it’s possible Valdez will do enough between now and the end of the World Series to redeem himself — and his value on the free agent market. Until then, it’s impossible to know exactly how much last week’s cross-up cost him.
For now, Valdez has cost himself at least one possible suitor, and that could be enough to lighten his wallet.
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