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Veteran right-hander Robert Suarez will be hitting the free agency market this winter, and he is expected to be one of the most sought-after bullpen arms in the league. Suarez has been one of the more effective bullpen pieces in baseball over the years, and he is now ready to cash in for his performance.
The right-hander is coming off another strong year with the San Diego Padres, but multiple reports are pointing to him leaving San Diego. Since there are plenty of teams across baseball who need help in the bullpen, Suarez could have a very strong market to pick from this offseason.
Suarez has posted consecutive seasons that saw him pitch at least 65 innings and put up a sub-3.00 ERA. The veteran also led the National League with 40 saves this year, showing how dominant he could be in the late-game situations.
In addition, the veteran posted a strikeout rate of 27.9 percent this year, and he cut his walk rate down immensely. This is huge for his next contract, and his representatives can point to his continued development over the years.
As teams evaluate bullpen arms, one of the biggest questions is whether they can handle the pressure of the ninth inning. Suarez has proved this and then some, giving teams a chance to trust him down the stretch of games.
Suarez could be a perfect player for those who don’t want to pay top dollars for someone like Edwin Diaz. Overall, his marker is expected to be strong, and it could see teams have a bidding war for his services.
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Robert Suarez Stays in NL West, Heads to San Francisco Giants
One team that knows Suarez very well from his time in the NL West is the San Francisco Giants, and they are in need of bullpen help. San Francisco’s president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, has already hinted at pitching being the priority this offseason, and adding Suarez could be huge for the team.
Not only would he be a major addition to the Giants’ bullpen plans going forward, but this would weaken the Padres, a division rival. San Francisco has tried to be active in free agency over the past few years, and it seems that they will be big players again.
If they could add a reliable closer to the mix, the Giants may be able to push forward for next season. The team had a late-season push that saw them come close to reaching the playoffs, and they can take that momentum into 2026.
Suarez is a lights-out pitcher, and the Giants have been searching for someone like him for a few years now. This could be one of the better signings that the team can make this year, and they could then still go add a few more pieces to round out the roster.