Edwin Diaz came off the market on Tuesday when he signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers earlier today. Now that both he and Devin Williams are off the board, veteran right-hander Robert Suarez stands as the clear top option available on the market for closers this winter. It didn’t take long after Diaz’s deal was reported for MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand to report that Suarez’s market was starting to gain traction. Feinsand highlighted the Mets, Blue Jays, and Braves as the “most aggressive suitors” for the righty’s services. New York and Toronto have both been connected to Suarez already this winter, but Atlanta is a newly-reported suitor. Meanwhile, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR throws the Cubs’ name into the mix as well, reporting that Chicago is exploring the closer market and adding that Suarez is “one of the ideal candidates” for the club.
Suarez, 35 in March, has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons. He’s sporting a 2.87 ERA and 3.17 FIP with 76 saves in 134 2/3 innings of work across those two campaigns. This year, he struck out 27.9% of his opponents with a 5.9% walk rate, giving him a 21.9% K-BB ratio that ranked 26th among qualified relievers this year. Those excellent numbers are enough to make him one of the league’s top relievers, although the right-hander’s age and imperfect track record (including a middling 2023 season where injury limited him to just 26 appearances) figure to limit the length of his contract somewhat. MLBTR predicted Suarez for a three-year, $48MM deal as the #21 free agent on our Top 50 MLB Free Agents list for the offseason.
That would be a hefty sum for a team like the Braves to pay for a closer when they already have longtime closer Raisel Iglesias in the fold, particularly when Atlanta is also in the market for help at shortstop and in the rotation. With that said, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time the club committed significant dollars to their bullpen. Iglesias, Joe Jimenez and Aaron Bummer are both on significant contracts already, and players like Pierce Johnson and Will Smith have been guaranteed significant dollars by Atlanta in the past.
The Cubs seem like a much clearer fit for Suarez, at least on paper. They’ve lost Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, Caleb Thielbar, and Andrew Kittredge from their bullpen this offseason. While they signed Phil Maton last month and Daniel Palencia remains a viable closing option, that’s still a lot of talent to lose from the late-inning relief mix. That makes it unsurprising that Chicago would be in the mix for a player like Suarez, although it’s worth noting that the Cubs have typically shied away from large multi-year commitments to relievers. Maton’s two-year deal is actually the first multi-year guarantee the team has signed a reliever to since Craig Kimbrel back in 2019, but a deal for Suarez would be on another level entirely; his annual salary would surely rival the $14.5MM total guarantee Maton landed.
The Mets and Blue Jays remain as perhaps the most obvious fits for the righty. While New York did bring Williams into the fold, they remained in on Diaz even after that signing. Now that Diaz has settled on Los Angeles, the Mets pivoting towards Suarez to strengthen the back of their bullpen is easy to understand, particularly after Williams delivered inconsistent results in the ninth inning as a member of the Yankees last year. The Jays, meanwhile, have long been known to be in the market for another high leverage reliever to pair with Jeff Hoffman in the late innings.
The number of quality closers on the market is dropping quickly, and if Toronto is hoping to add a high-end reliever with closing experience Suarez is undoubtedly the top option at this point. Keller and Tyler Rogers are alternative impact options still available who lack that ninth inning track record, while closers like Pete Fairbanks and Luke Weaver are still available but are coming off far less impressive seasons than the one Suarez just delivered in San Diego. The Marlins and White Sox are among the other teams known to be involved in the closing market this winter, though it would be a surprise to see either spend aggressively enough to land someone of Suarez’s caliber.
While the Cubs have swung and missed on Neris and Pressly recently when it comes to older relievers, Robert Suarez doesn’t seem to be on the regression path at all, so if they were to pick him up, I’d be happy.
The Braves getting Suarez would be a big upgrade, as Raisel has shown he’s been extremely iffy the last year or so. If Anthopolous really wants to push the chips in on this iteration of the Braves, that’d be a huge pickup.
I’d add the braves make some sense as a team that would want pen arms to shorten games. Lots of their starters have been hurt. So not pushing them as hard deep into games could help keep them healthy.
Yes, but you can do that more effectively for less cash than signing a 35 y/o closer after you just signed a closer (Iglesias). Considering their top setup man (Jimenez) is questionable to start the season and missed last season, setup/non-closers are the need more so than overpaying a closer. Never know why some front offices overpay a closer to work as a setup man then are surprised when they don’t find the same success in that role.
Jays “MUST” sign Suarez as i have him coming to the Jays in the contest!!!
jaysfansince1977: But nobody else cares. 🤷♂️
Really Alfred, You now speak for everyone else??? Might be a few other people who want him on the Jays!!!
But the Jays aren’t the only team out there.
Never said they were “I said i had him in the contest”, Have you never heard of humour???
jaysfansince1977: Of course I have, but that doesn’t qualify because it’s not particularly funny.
I don’t see the Braves doing this. Getting some smaller pen pieces makes more sense. Also, I’d stop with the Mets, too. If they didn’t bring Diaz back at that price, they aren’t additionally spending at closer. They got their guy in Williams. Jays paid Hoffman as a closer already, too, while they could additionally spend, teams usually don’t double down in that department monetarily unless they’re the Dodge. That said, Jays obviously habe been spending so I wouldn’t put it pass them. Cubs do make the most sense of the teams mentioned in the article.
I have him to the Giants, which I’m not too enthused with. Haven’t heard any mention of them upgrading there even though they could use it.
Giants make some sense. As they need back end pen help.
Braves need pen arms but Suarez seems like an odd fit vs cheaper options.
Mets did offer Diaz a lot of money. Though I could see them going with a lessor option like fair banks.
Jays make a lot of sense. Hoffman isn’t gonna stop them from adding another closer.
Cubs I could see but the lack of paying for backend relief does seem to make them less likely despite the need.
Either way with 5 big markets linked…Suarez will get paid. Though I could see a two year deal instead of 3 years.
Oh he’s definitely getting paid, probably around the same as Devin Williams or slightly less depending on how GM’s view him overall. I give the guy high marks personally.
He’s odd for the Braves bc AA has this aversion to signing big leaguers. That ‘pen is wildly understaffed at present.
Not sure why the Cubs simply bring back Keller and Pomeranz. From what I see the Cubs don’t seem all that interested. Is it money, years, no longer a fit, maybe regression? Don’t know. I hear Keller is interested in a starting role. Maybe, the Cubs don’t see that. Anyway, those guys did a solid job last season. Just seems a like a simple and effective move to bring at least one of those back. It’s a move where you know what you’re getting as a teammate/club house guy.
Astros aren’t getting these players so NL clubs please sign these pitchers.
As much as I’d love Suarez paired with Iggy, I think someone like Keller is more likely of they’re spending on a high leverage reliever
Well, this means the Braves won’t be getting him. They never get a player that they are publicly linked to.
That isn’t entirely true…. Sean Murphy was heavily linked to the Braves a few years ago during the winter meetings. Everyone said the same thing. It won’t happen because the Braves don’t let things like that out… Then boom a few weeks later it happened.
So, yes, it is rare for the Braves to sign someone they are linked to publicly, it does happen.
Sure would be nice to pick up Suarez. Hopefully we do.
I’m not against the idea either. Especially if they don’t Jimenez will be healthy.
I think it is either or though…. Either a starter or another RP like Suarez. I like Fairbanks too and he would be cheaper and could allow the Braves to also get a SP.
I don’t want Atl to spend just to spend, but I do like to hear they are trying to shop at the top of the market.
From what I found, since 2017 AA has not signed any player to over 3 years, and only two of those. I think you can safely remove the Braves from this list
Yep, just like reported interest in Diaz, late before he signed with LAD, ATL feigning interest to push away from rivals or up the price.
I think the Cubs should go for a couple RPs one tier below Suarez and then follow suit with relievers below that tier. Spread the money their willing to spend on their bullpen and bet on their pitch lab which proved effective for the most part last season. What they did with Pomeranz and Keller should be recognized as a strength and do what they can to enhance whatever formula(s) they used in house. They have too many holes to fill in their bullpen and then there’s the need for 1 or 2 SPs plus a bat that need to be addressed. They have a good, young power arm as a starting point in their pen in place with Palencia. Im not saying hes the man, but he showed he can finish ballgames. Im fine with him in the 7th, 8th, or 9th. He’s a good start to build a high octane bullpen. Spread the wealth and let your pitch lab do what they’ve shown they’re capable of. Just my 2 cents.
I don’t see Hoyer going after Suarez, he doesn’t sign big ticket relievers, so the Blue Jays, Mets and Braves are the probable landing spots for him.
The Cubs POBO snake oil salesman Jed Hoyer will say they have interest in several high end FAs and eventually scrounge around and sign less expensive guys and hope it works out. Keep your fingers crossed Jed and rub that rabbits foot. The words HOPE and IF are his favorite words. When 2025 started the goal was to win the division. At the inactive trade deadline Jed said the goal was to be competitive the rest of the season and years to come. Most recently it is, we should be able to put a good team on the field. A poor organization from the owner down through the front office .
Not a Jed fan, but I’ll have to disagree with much of what you’re saying. All execs say they are interested in high octane players, not only Jed. The bargain bin bullpens that Jed assembles actually DO work out. Thielbar, Pomeranz, Keller, and last year, Merryweather, Miller, Pearson, et al have been more than serviceable, in spite of the middling rotation. It’s those high ticket gambles that didn’t work out. I’m glad he doesn’t spend on multi year deals for many of these retreads or else we’d be stuck with some bad parts. If Hottovy can pull at least one good year out of each and then kick it to next year’s group, so be it. Who exactly would’ve helped the team over the hump this past trade deadline? Did you know Horton would go down at the end and that Tucker wouldn’t find his groove again? I wish this front office was as aggressive as some of the other perennial big market players, but I don’t want a recklessly built, directionless team. Jed plays it too safe, likely at the direction of the Ricketts, but to call this a top- down “poorly run organization” is not accurate. You must be thinking of that other team on the south side, because that would be the very definition of a poorly run franchise. We could do a lot worse than Talking Head Jed and that ghost Carter Hawkins.
Not the biggest fan of Jed myself. I’ve been critical many times. Admittedly, at times unfairly. Most times I feel justified in my criticism. The past trade deadline there were teams who were asking incredibly high asking prices. Teams asking for player combos that included Shaw, Caissie, Bellesteros, Horton, Wiggins and Rojas. Jed did not want to give that much up as some of these guys are likely needed to fill roles in 2026/27. All in all Jed did right this time. No way he moves that much.
Would rather Atlanta get a Weaver or Fairbanks for a little cheaper, i don’t really see much difference in the 3. All are solid flame throwers who can close, if needed. Braves need arms to pitch those first five innings. Spend on that.
I just don’t see the Braves forking out the money it will take to get him. That said, AA is well known for completely overspending on the bullpen at the expense of multiple other positions on the field. We truly need another bat and ss. If he gets him, you can bank one, if not both of those won’t be addressed and likely SP also, which depth is a need there. In fact; it would prob be his last move of the offseason
Giants should get him. Their 9th inning situation is a disaster.
With the cubbies it’s more a matter of show and tell. They have nothing quality wise they’d be able to do in trade or free agent because they’re tight wad spending and they don’t have much in minors as far as depth both in pitching and position players. Makes for another bleak off season. U def hoyer.
I like the orioles super aggressiveness after a terrible year. As for the cubs and their down last half the year, no hope as they continue with their bargain basement hunting.
Braves signed him 3 year deal.45 million
Hey, who needs Suarez when we have the best reliever in baseball in palencia!
“Meanwhile” should START the sentence, not come in the middle between commas. How do you get this correct and wrong in the same article?