The hopes of Houston Astros fans that their team and starting pitcher Framber Valdez were reportedly on track for a long-term extension by Opening Day have been dashed.The report, coming from Valdez's native Dominican Republic and citing an anonymous source, noted that the hurler was seeking a deal of at least $150 million and could be completed by Opening Day.However, a Tuesday report from the Houston Chronicle countered that rumor. Chronicle staff writer Chandler Rome quoted Valdez's agent, Ulises Cabrera, as saying the earlier report was "100 percent made up information."Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k20932The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kWhile Framber Valdez is not a free agent until after the 2026 season, hopes of a pre-emptive contract extension to keep the strikeout artist in a Houston Astros uniform for the foreseeable future had the team's fans feeling positive. Now, with that optimism squashed, it's back to a "wait and see" posture for the Astros Nation.Celeste@ItsnenaXoxoBack to square one. twitter.com/chandler_rome/…Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k132The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kBack to square one. twitter.com/chandler_rome/…Russell Kampe@d1owls4life@Chandler_Rome Oh well@Chandler_Rome Oh wellLuvYaBlueKid@RickRodriguez70@Chandler_Rome Misinformation is bad@Chandler_Rome Misinformation is bad https://t.co/cAA6fc4KAGFramber Valdez continued a steady progression toward dominance last season. The 28-year-old represented the Houston Astros in the All-Star Game en route to posting a 17-6 record with 194 strikeouts while leading the American League with 201.1 innings pitched in 2022. His ERA has dropped in each of the past four seasons.Well that was close…@IamWendums@Chandler_Rome Just get it done Astros@Chandler_Rome Just get it done AstrosYoni Pollak@YoniPollakFramber has 3 years until he becomes a FA. He's starting his age 29 season. Wouldn't mind the Astros trying to extend him another 3 more years, locking him in with this core. Shouldn't cost more than $150 million considering he's making just $6.8m this year. twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/…Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k21432The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kFramber has 3 years until he becomes a FA. He's starting his age 29 season. Wouldn't mind the Astros trying to extend him another 3 more years, locking him in with this core. Shouldn't cost more than $150 million considering he's making just $6.8m this year. twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/…ada@ada08736694@Chandler_Rome Pay the man@Chandler_Rome Pay the manMany fans became quite infuriated at MLB Insider Hector Gomez, the author of the original report that said Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros are prospectively nearing a deal. They wasted no time lashing out at the perceived source of their heartache.Cole Clark@cColeClarkHector Gomez is 0 for everything when reporting Astros news it feels like twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/…Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k21332The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kHector Gomez is 0 for everything when reporting Astros news it feels like twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/…j*ck🚂🏆@astrosjack2Hector gomez was wrong?????? No way!!!!!!! hope he gets a life ruining stroke twitter.com/chandler_rome/…Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k21332The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kHector gomez was wrong?????? No way!!!!!!! hope he gets a life ruining stroke twitter.com/chandler_rome/…🚂@PenaToHOFHector Gomez is the most inconsistent reporter ever twitter.com/chandler_rome/…Chandler Rome@Chandler_RomeThe Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3k632The Astros and Framber Valdez have had no negotiations about a long-term extension, his agent said on Tuesday morning, calling a report of Valdez signing before opening day for at least $150 million "absolutely 100 percent made up information.” - bit.ly/3jY1T3kHector Gomez is the most inconsistent reporter ever twitter.com/chandler_rome/…Of course, some fans want to see a bit more out of Valdez before committing long-term to the prospective future ace of the team. He has a career WAR of 7.7, with a 3.7 WAR in 2022.Madiq Isreali Smal@InBeforeBanned@Chandler_Rome I’d like to see how he does without the shift before a long term signing@Chandler_Rome I’d like to see how he does without the shift before a long term signingFramber Valdez, Houston Astros may be headed to arbitration in 2024Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros looks on from the dugoutAccording to Fangraphs.com, Valdez currently sits in the No. 1 slot of Houston's young starting staff following the free agency departure of 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.The Astros signed both Valdez and fellow Dominican hurler Cristian Javier as amateur free agents in 2015. Valdez, now 29, is currently the second-oldest member of the Astros' starting staff, just months younger than 2012 first-round draft pick Lance McCullers Jr. Venezuelan Luis Garcia and Mexican Jose Urquidy round out Houston's starting five heading into MLB Spring Training.Barring a contract extension, Valdez, currently working on a $6.8 million deal for 2023, is arbitration eligible in 2024.