This winter’s free agent class is already loaded with talent, and there could be one more intriguing player added into the mix. Right-hander Robert Suarez, the closer for the Hanshin Tigers, has a player option for 2022, according to an article from Yahoo! Japan relayed by Sung Min Kim, who has written for both FanGraphs and The Athletic. If Suarez were to decline it, the Venezuelan would become a free agent and would be able to sign with any team, either in Japan or elsewhere.
Suarez, who turns 31 in March, could garner plenty of interest around the baseball world based on his recent track record. He’s been playing in Nippon Professional Baseball since 2016 but has taken his game to another level over the past couple seasons. In 2020, he threw 52 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.24, racking up 25 saves in the process. His strikeout rate was 24% and his walk rate was 9.1%. In 2021, he elevated his game even further, notching 42 saves over 62 1/3 innings, with an ERA of 1.16, a strikeout rate of 25.3% and excellent walk rate of 3.5%.
It was recently reported that Thyago Vieira, also pitching in NPB, is garnering interest from MLB clubs based on his recent run of success, but his numbers are a notch below Suarez’s. Vieira has an ERA of 3.04 over the past couple seasons, with a 26.9% strikeout rate and elevated 12.4% walk rate. Vieira does have an age advantage over Suarez, however, as he won’t turn 29 until July 1st, meaning Suarez is a little more than two years older. But it stands to reason that Suarez could attract as much interest as Vieira, if not more.
There are lots of high-leverage righty options available in free agency this offseason, from Raisel Iglesias to Kenley Jansen, Kendall Graveman, Ryan Tepera, Collin McHugh and many more. But there’s potential for some other interesting options on the other side of the Pacific.
Dude get 260M Yen /2.4M USD from Hanshin this year. Probably will get more next year from Hanshin. Will any MLB teams willing to pay him around 3M a year for his service?
Pierce Johnson got a $7m 3 year deal (3rd year a club option year) . It’s a possibility Suarez and/or Vieira both do well
I think someone could give him over $3 million. He looks like he could potentially be a lock down closer. If a team can get a lock down closer for 3 or 4 mill that would be a steal. If he goes bust it still likely wouldn’t be anything close to the worst contract on the team. Maybe a 2 year deal for $6M gets it done. In an age where we’ve seen guys like Jeurys Familia, BJ Ryan, Travis Shaw, Wade Davis and several others all go completely bust on contracts worth more than ten times that amount… I don’t see why at least one of the 30 teams wouldn’t take that kind of low level risk with his number. Sounds like low risk/high reward to me. He will be cheaper than the starters that come from overseas and he seems more likely to give you what you pay for.
Hirokazu Sawamura got 2/$3M despite being 3 years older and not having been as dominant as Suarez in recent years. Who knows what Suarez is looking for–whether that be making the MLB at all costs, going for guaranteed years, or just signing with whoever offers him the most money. Should be interesting to see how his market develops if he opts out
Sung Min Kim was also an excellent writer & analyst at the old River Ave Blues. Good writer. Good info *always*. His insight into/of the Asian baseball leagues (NPB, KBO. & the CPBL) is my go-to.
good for him ig
I think the last time foreign relief pitcher post a great number in Japan and translate well in Majors is Tony Barnette. Post 1.29 ERA in 62.2 innings in 2015 for Yakult and do well for Texas in 2016 (2.09 ERA in 60.1 innings)
Suarez doesn’t exactly sound Japanese though
Iglesius is the best of the lot. Had he been with the Phillies last season (34 Blown saves!!!!), they would have easily won the NL East. However, unlike the Braves, the Phillies never would have gotten this far in the post-season. Just one W away from being World Champions. Kudos to their GM for revamping the entire outfield after Acuna went down and guys like Inciarte came up short.
Hate to see a solid pro, and an even more than solid human being (Dusty Baker), once again fall short of winning a championship unless the Astros figure out a way to win three games in a row (Unlikely IMHO)..
One good year, at age30, in Japan. I wouldn’t make much of a wager on this guy.
Usual suspects. Yankees or Dodgers.