Dec. 11 (UPI) — The Atlanta Braves signed All-Star closer Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million deal, they announced Thursday.
The Braves designated left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison for assignment in a corresponding transaction to make room for Suarez on their 40-man roster.
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Suarez, 34, went 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA and National League-best 40 saves over 70 appearances last season for the San Diego Padres. The veteran right-handed relief pitcher went 9-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 36 saves over 65 appearances in 2024 in route to his first of two All-Star selections.
Braves relief pitchers logged the seventh-worst ERA (4.19) in the National League last off-season. Suarez was part of a Padres bullpen that posted an MLB-best 3.06 ERA.
Suarez is set to make $13 million in 2026 and $16 million in 2027 and 2028. The Braves said he will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
He will likely serve as a setup man for Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, who went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 29 saves over 70 appearances last season. Iglesias led the National League with 57 games finished in 2025. He signed a one-year, $16 million deal with the Braves in November.