Eight teams are involved in the market for free agent pitcher Brent Suter, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. Murray adds that a few of those clubs have told the left-hander’s camp they’d be interested in stretching him back out as a starter.
Suter has worked in relief for the last five years. His only consistent rotation run came in 2017-18 when he combined to make 32 starts in 42 outings for the Brewers. Suter had generally solid results over that stretch. He posted a 4.09 ERA while holding opponents to a .259/.300/.429 slash in 165 innings as a starter. Milwaukee nevertheless kicked him into relief as they continued developing starters with higher upside than the soft-tossing Suter provided.
The Harvard product has quietly turned in consistently strong numbers in relief as well. He has topped 60 innings while allowing between three and four earned runs per nine in each of the last three seasons. That’s despite hitter-friendly home environments. After pitching parts of seven years in Milwaukee, he was claimed off waivers by the Rockies last offseason.
Suter didn’t have any issues acclimating to Coors Field. He turned in a 3.38 ERA in 69 1/3 innings. As has always been the case, he did so without missing many bats. Suter struck out 18.8% of batters on a modest 9.3% swinging strike rate. He did a solid job avoiding walks and keeping the ball on the ground. Suter also proved one of the toughest pitchers for opponents to square up, a skill he has shown throughout his career.
The 34-year-old clearly has the ability to be a successful reliever. There’d be more of a leap of faith in projecting him as a starter. However, as Murray points out, Suter has effectively handled hitters from either side of the dish. Since the start of 2021, he has held right-handed batters to a .250/.309/.376 slash in 586 plate appearances. Lefties own a .236/.321/.399 mark over 291 trips. That should keep opponents from stacking a lineup with right-handed bats if Suter were tabbed as a starter. He also has the command to hold up for multiple innings and a traditional four-pitch mix (four-seam, sinker, changeup, slider).
A few former relievers have gotten chances to start as free agents. Michael Lorenzen made that jump two years ago. Seth Lugo had a very good season out of the rotation with the Padres, positioning him for a three-year pact with Kansas City in a return trip to free agency this offseason. The Braves are considering that possibility with Reynaldo López. Perhaps Suter will get a chance to join that group, although he doesn’t throw nearly as hard as any of that trio. There haven’t been any teams publicly linked to him in free agency. Colorado held onto him despite interest at the trade deadline, in part because Rox GM Bill Schmidt noted in July the team had interest in an extension.
From Chicago played in Milwaukee for years. If he wants a shot at starting perhaps the White Sox would work. If he wants to compete and win games perhaps the Cubs.
No please not the White Sox let’s get him to a team that is at least attempting to field a competitive team with the Cubs. Jed needs to get relievers. Saw plenty of Suter while he was a Brewer, as a bullpen arm he’s not bad.
Yeah same here seen him a lot he’s got talent for sure. Always good to get a local guy I think he’s a great fit for the Cubs. Cubs have been quiet so far but I think moves are coming some big ones we will see.
I could see the Suter going to a team that has a strong infield defense and a bigger ballpark.
Under those conditions, I think Suter could eventually be a steal as a potential back of the rotation innings eater.
The cubs yeah because I can see his 88 mph 4-seamer getting taken out when the wind is blowing out. Hitters dream then!
Reds need brent , Michael L
Erm, what the spruce?
What is the fascination behind taking failed veteran starters who find bullpen success and trying to put them back in the rotation. Like outside of Seth Lugo who else in recent history has a team picked up in FA that has had succes going from the bullpen to the rotation
He isn’t a failed starter, pitched like a decent back end guy
When has Suter failed? He’s been consistently decent for what he is, his entire career.
Cubs fan here, some signings would be nice.
Guy is always decent. Once with 12-5 as a reliever. How is that possible?
Go get your guy Stearns. Mets need a LH Relievers. Suter or Matt Moore.
Sounds like a Pittsburgh move
AJ Preller on line 1. Pads can offer a Lugo path and have credibility thru Lugo and Martinez for him to consider.
They need a SP and a LH reliever so if starting fails or a need to move to limit innings they won’t be hurt.
Wondering about the Eric Lauer reunion too.
Oakland A’s should pay for him. Great mentor for all those young pitchers coming through and he will definitely play then probably they flip him at the deadline for a contender
His 88 mph 4-seamer will not hold up well if he’s a starter. Leave him in the bullpen.. if it ain’t broke don’t fix it
The Padres could use him
Man when the trade deadline came around I was hoping the braves got him, instead we got brad hand, I guarantee Brent went have been a better pickup, and he would have cost about the same in trade capital as hand. I’ve always liked him because even though he doesn’t throw hard, he’s always managed to find a great deal of success. I wish him nothing but the best. As a guy who throws soft and paints the corners, he surely keeps hitters in check, and he definitely can last in the league until he is personally ready to quit.