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Could the Blue Jays go after an Edwin Diaz-type?
Three days into the Winter Meetings, the big-name players are slowly going off the board in free agency. As far as the Atlanta Braves go, there was some big news involving their National League East rivals.
The Philadelphia Phillies are re-signing Kyle Schwarber, while the New York Mets have lost Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles. As far as the Braves, it’s been quiet so far.
As far as some of the top remaining free agents, Robert Suarez is one of the biggest free agent closers left. The former San Diego Padres right-hander is starting to see his market heat up, and the Braves are reportedly in it.
Braves Linked to Robert Suarez in Free Agency
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Suarez could be the next reliever off the board. He reported that the Braves, Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays have been in the mix.
“According to sources, Suarez’s market began gaining traction following the Díaz signing, with the Mets, Blue Jays, and Braves believed to be the most aggressive suitors,” wrote Feinsand.
Surprisingly, Suarez hasn’t been more sought after. He recorded 40 saves for the Padres in 2025 in 45 opportunities. He had a 2.97 ERA in 69.2 innings pitched with 75 strikeouts and 16 walks. Suarez also finished with a career-high 2.3 WAR.
The last two seasons, the 35-year-old has had a 2.87 ERA with 76 saves in 134.2 innings with 134 strikeouts. He was named to the National League All-Star team in 2024 and 2025.
“Suarez will turn 35 in March, but he has been one of the best closers in the game over the past two seasons, posting 76 saves and a 2.87 ERA in 135 appearances since the start of 2024,” wrote Feinsand.
Braves Need to Beat Out Other Suitors
Saying that Atlanta needs to land Suarez rather than the Mets is an understatement. However, with New York losing Diaz and Alonso, they will have to pivot to other areas, and a closer is one of them. They did sign Devin Williams from the New York Yankees earlier, before the Winter Meetings.
Diaz got a record deal from the Dodgers with an AAV of $23 million. It’s unlikely that Suarez gets a deal anywhere near that.
“Given that no reliever has landed a deal for more than three years this winter, it’s reasonable to think that Suarez is looking at the same term. He is unlikely to match Díaz’s average annual value of $23 million, but Suarez could be looking at something in the range of the $17 million per year that Devin Williams got from the Mets over three years,” Feinsand wrote.
Atlanta could be looking to load up the bullpen. They already have Raisel Iglesias, but adding Suarez would leave them with multiple options in the bullpen late in games. A three-year, $51 million deal, the same one that Williams got, seems high for the Braves, but if they want Suarez, they’ll have to pay.
The Braves need infield help as well as another starter or two. They could also add through a trade, but with the Winter Meetings quickly coming to a close, it’ll be interesting to see if anything gets done.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
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