Blue Jays 2025 free agent target: Robert Suarez

The 2025/2026 offseason is officially underway, and this year’s free agent class is stacked. Kyle Tucker is in line for a huge payday; there are numerous frontline starters available, Bo Bichette is a free agent for the first time in his career; and numerous roster players are heading to the open market, who are looking to cash in as well.

The Blue Jays need to plug some holes that are going to be left by the current free agent market. Bichette leads the group, and should be the priority for the club this winter, while Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ty France, and Seranthony Dominguez. The Jays will need to figure out the Bichette situation while also exploring some possibilities to improve the rotation, whether that’s via free agency or trade, and have been tied to bigger-name free agents this winter, given their recent postseason success, giving them some leverage heading into the offseason.

Toronto is only losing one reliever at the moment (Dominguez), but their bullpen fell on hard times this postseason, struggling to find success when the pressure was at its highest. They were in the middle of the pack across numerous stats outside of strikeouts, where they ranked fifth (644). General manager Ross Atkins also alluded to the fact that Jeff Hoffman may not be the guaranteed closer heading into next year, making things a bit interesting for the club this winter.

Bringing back Dominguez is a good place to start, but the Jays’ front office can aim higher this offseason. Enter Robert Suarez.

2025 Season Stats

Suarez hits the free agent market after opting out of his deal with the San Diego Padres, worth $16 million over two years. After spending his early years in Japan, Suarez joined the Padres in 2021 and has become a staple in their bullpen ever since.

Last season, he authored a 2.97 ERA and a 2.88 FIP across a career high 70 outings and 69 2/3 innings, accumulating an NL-leading 40 saves while finishing 56 games. He struck out 75 batters through that time, posting a 9.7 K/9, and kept the hitters from walking a ton with a stellar 2.1 BB/9. His 0.904 WHIP was another career best, tying his 2023 numbers, albeit with over 40 fewer innings.

Working with a four-pitch mix, Suarez sports a high-90s fastball that is his main pitch (60.4%), and he pairs that with a changeup, sinker, and a cutter, utilizing the up/down movement and workings that fans are accustomed to with the likes of Kevin Gausman and numerous other Jays arms. His fastball was dominant this year, producing a +14 pitching run value while holding batters to a .169 average, .227 wOBA, and working with a 30.6% strikeout rate. His changeup was hit a ton this year (.310 average and .483 SLG), but his sinker worked well with the fastball, generating a .102 average and .163 SLG in its limited use (15.5%).