Any time a team signs relief pitchers to large contracts, it can be a major risk. Year-to-year relievers can be fickle with their results, so when you have a player performing well, it’s best to take advantage at the moment.
The San Diego Padres found this out the hard way in 2023 with veteran relief pitcher Robert Suarez. He was a key member of the team last season when San Diego went to the NLCS, but regressed this year.
San Diego signed him to a five-year deal after the 2022 season, but that now looks like a big mistake. He finished the 2023 campaign with an ERA of 4.23, and he never seemed comfortable on the mound. Injuries could have played a role, but his performance did hurt the Padres this season.
Writer Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed the worst contract on the books for each MLB team, and Suarez made the cut for San Diego.
“His 2023 season began with injury issues as he battled arm stiffness and shoulder inflammation, and he ended up finishing with a 4.23 ERA in 26 appearances. The most alarming stat was his strikeout rate dropping from 31.9 to 22.2 percent, and the Padres will be counting on him to bounce back with Josh Hader poised to depart in free agency.”
Suarez is likely to step into the closer role with Josh Hader probably heading elsewhere this offseason. The Padres paid a hefty price for him, so they will have to hope that his 2024 is much better than 2023.
If he can regain his form from a year ago, the Padres will be in a good spot next season. They are going to need guys like Suarez to step up with Hader likely leaving, so this offseason will be huge for him.
He has shown that he can be a quality performer in the major leagues, so he will need to do it again. The fate of the San Diego bullpen next year could depend on how Suarez comes out.
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