Padres closer Robert Suarez has opted out of the final two years and $16MM on his deal with San Diego, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Suarez will now head into the free agent market in search of a new deal.
San Diego signed Suarez to a five-year, $46MM deal ahead of the 2023 season. Injuries limited him to 27 2/3 innings that year, but he broke out as a premier closer the following season. Suarez notched 36 saves in 2024, earning an All-Star nomination. He followed that up with a National League-leading 40 saves in 2025.
Suarez took a roundabout way to MLB stardom. He pitched in the NPB from 2018 to 2021, emerging as a top reliever over his final two campaigns. Suarez piled up 67 saves in two seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, which earned him a look in the big leagues. San Diego brought him over on a major-league deal in December 2021. He made 45 appearances for the Padres that season. Suarez posted an elite 31.9% strikeout rate, but it came with an elevated 11% walk rate. Following his first MLB season, Suarez elected free agency, but returned to San Diego on the aforementioned five-year pact.
The 34-year-old Suarez wraps up his San Diego tenure with 77 saves across 206 appearances. He recorded a 2.91 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP over 210 innings. Suarez earned two All-Star selections.
Suarez is entering a crowded reliever market. Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and Raisel Iglesias are among the top names, while Edwin Díaz could join the mix if he opts out of his current deal. Proven veterans Emilio Pagan, Luke Weaver, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan are also available.
San Diego shouldn’t have to look far for Suarez’s replacement. The team landed their closer of the future at the trade deadline, acquiring Mason Miller from the Athletics for a package led by shortstop prospect Leo De Vries. Miller was dominant as a setup man for Suarez, posting a 0.77 ERA with an insane 54.2% strikeout rate in 22 appearances with his new team. The young flamethrower is entering his first year of arbitration, so he should function as San Diego’s stopper for the foreseeable future.
Going to the Dodgers.
let him. please let him
Maybe not, I didn’t realize he’ll be 35 next season.
This is once instance where I think an exception can be made. He had a late start to his pro career and has low MLB mileage.
he did have 330 IPs across 6 foreign league seasons beforehand though and 550 combined with the MLB, i don’t think teams are going to look at him like he’s a lightly used late bloomer
They did invest 1/15 in a 38 year old Kirby Yates. It didn’t work out though.
That’s being kind to the reality of his season.
But you’re right. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
I’m really curious to see how they approach this off-season.
Worked out ok for Kirby!
Absolutely it did!
He did his best, but didn’t have it at all. Got paid, and got a ring for his efforts.
Same with Conforto and Scott.
ADF – and yes to those 2 as well – it’s funny how some guys on this site act like only one GM or team has signings that didn’t pan out (or trades). Kirby was a good flier based on recent results (and not so far distant results). It’s part of the business and players get hurt or whatever. The only teams that it doesn’t happen to are the ones not making any moves!
Congrats.
Payday incoming!
Interesting to note that even though Suarez’s fastball velocity dipped slightly (–0.4 mph) in 2025, his run value (+14) and actual results (.227 wOBA) were the best of his career.
This could get creative with a more years to lower AAV deal due to age and it’s not like he has 10-12 years in mlb.
Cmon Jed. Sign him.
Yeah I wish. But we all know that Jed doesn’t spend money on closers. He’s going to go into next season with Palencia and when he gets hurt or is ineffective, will piecemeal something out of the bargain bin. It worked this season so I’m sure he feels vindicated.
going to the Toronto Blue Jays
Good news for SD. Now if only Darvish would retire.
Padres can weather the loss in the bullpen, but Suarez at $9M annually was a steal. He earned his payday.
This was expected, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a 3 year deal somewhere.
Must not be a tough job market when you can turn down $16M
@harrycarey
Tons of cash in the sports industry. $16M is for 5th string BP guys.
8 million per year for a guy who has been an all star closer the last two years is very cheap
Good luck to whoever signs him. He has one pitch, and it doesn’t move. I have no idea how he didn’t get clobbered every outing.
It’s Miller time
@SD_SF_DET
Baseball Savant says that:
Suarez relies on 4 pitches. Four Seamer (60.4%) Changeup (23.9%) Sinker (15.5%) Cutter (0.2%).
It seems he has 4 pitches and uses 3 of them most of the time. If guys can’t hit a straight FB that is declining n speed from last year then I guess he’s doing well.
I believe the sinker was new this year, and it didn’t move either. Change was effective at times but he rarely threw it for strikes.
He’s certainly an upgrade at closer for some contenders, but I would balk at the asking price
@SD_SF_DET
Baseball Savant suggests all his pitches have movement.
4-seam: Induced Vertical Break (IVB): +2.3 inches (above avg) MLB avg IVB for RHP 4-seam: ~18.1 in of rise (due to backspin)
Suarez: +2.3 in more rise than average → rides well
Sinker: Induced Vertical Break (IVB): -8.7 inches (drop) MLB avg sinker drop: ~15.8 in Suarez: -8.7 in → drops ~24.5 in total → above-average sink
Changeup: Induced Vertical Break (IVB): -3.7 inches MLB avg changeup drop: ~7.4 in Suarez: drops ~11.1 in total → above-average fade/drop
– What are you watching?
Dude, I watch every game, including about half the home games at petco behind the plate. Not trying to argue with you and your stats. They may be accurate, but the eye test shows too many walks and hits in clutch situations.
I actually watch the games too and don’t just rely on metrics. I fully agree with your SD SF DET
@Now Yu Know
Okay, he sucks!
difference between baseball fans and stat monkeys.
Old York. You should update your stats. At the end of the year Suarez couldn’t find the plate with his change up. He threw mostly fastballs and sinkers at the end. He was very vulnerable as his era attests too. Look for the Yankees to sign him. My guess.
@Crunchtime1969
True: Zone% on changeup was low, about 28% in zone, high chase (32.8% whiff).
But .410 BABIP and -6 run value → hitters made loud contact when they hit it.
If you think Suarez is throwing more than one pitch you aren’t watching the games. He throws the change very little, the sinker looks just like 4 seam.
He’s had arm/ elbow issues in the past and I always considered him a bit of a ticking timebomb given the fastball usage. He will certainly rack up a lot of saves throughout the year, not so sure about the playoffs. Throwing 100mph in a straight line over and over to good hitters is probably not going to work.
When he’s on he locates the fb well. Upper 90’s.
A 99 MPH avg velocity can paper over a lot of things. He’s not truly elite IMO, but easily one of the better relievers in the game right now.
Best outcome for both sides. Money earned and money saved, respectively.
The Padres are going to have a tough time finishing 2nd next year. I think they should give Morejon a shot as a SP. He’s earned it and they need starters badly. Mushrove is coming back off of surgery. Darvish needs to ride off into the sunset. King and Cease are going after the big bucks. Vasquez will be a 5th starter maybe. Give Morejon a chance.
1-3 and 5-9 you can pencil in. still best bullpen in baseball. get a #4 bat and good back end of rotation and youre looking at another 90-93 win season
He’ll do fine on FA. A lot left in the tank.
Expected. Makes sense. Suarez has earned every bit of a free agent pay day, and I don’t make that statement often. If you look at the way he toiled at his craft without a whole lot of results, went to Japan and finally produced, then upped his game under Niebla’s coaching, and the results he’s produced, he’s going to be 35 years old and deserves it.
As far as the Pads are concerned, AJP prepared for this. It doesn’t make sense for the Pads to resign a 35 year old closer for whatever the going rate may be, while their roster is configured as it is, with Manny and Tatis’s big contract years arriving. The Pads bullpen will be alright, even if Miller moved to the starting rotation. I REALLY hope that Morejon stays in the bullpen, maybe as closer. With all the health problems he’s had, what he needs are some stable, injury free years, both so he can produce consistently for the Padres, and also so he too, can make some coin in his out years..