The idea of the Philadelphia Phillies letting Ranger Suarez walk this offseason has never really made sense to me, and the longer his free agency goes on, I just can’t understand what the Phillies are thinking.

Suarez has been a big part of what’s made the Phillies very good over the past few years.

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He’s an elite left-hander who has shown he can pitch in big games, handle postseason pressure, and ultimately stay healthy in a rotation with some questions this upcoming spring.

Those types of arms are hard to replace, especially for a team that expects to be playing meaningful games in October.

The Phillies’ rotation has many questions. Injuries are always a factor, and assuming everything breaks perfectly feels questionable. Letting a proven arm like Suarez leave without even trying to re-sign him, just to throw Andrew Painter in the mix, is wrong, no matter how the front office wants to win it.

Dave Dombrowski’s track record makes it even more questionable, as he usually wants good players to stay around. Maybe he’s trying to be quiet about the noise and it isn’t getting leaked, which is what Evan Macy of The Philly Voice believes could be happening, but also added that it’s tough to see why there haven’t been many connections so far.

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“Dave Dombrowski isn’t always outspoken and doesn’t always make moves through the media. It’s possible he’s keeping quiet and is considering making an offer, even with the Phillies expected to be over the luxury tax again in 2026. But it’s peculiar that there are no links between the lefty and his former team, which does in theory have use for him,” he wrote.

Luxury tax concerns are fair, but this is exactly the type of pitcher Philadelphia should make room for if it is serious about contending. I also highly doubt that Suarez is looking for some ridiculous deal.

If the Phillies truly plan to move on, they better have a clear replacement and guarantee that Painter will be incredible. Otherwise, this move simply makes no sense.

Only time will tell what happens but it isn’t looking good.