Examining potential landing spots for Phillies' Ranger Suarez

The Philadelphia Phillies fell short of postseason expectations for the third consecutive season, losing in four games to the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

Now, many questions remain regarding key players in Philadelphia as the offseason approaches. The Phillies are expected to part ways with outfielder Nick Castellanos, whether via trade or a release, and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber will be a free agent. 

Retaining Schwarber appears to be a priority for the club, but keeping southpaw Ranger Suarez should be as well. However, the one-time All-Star could find himself in a different uniform next season for the first time since signing with the Phillies as a 16-year-old in 2012. 

Here are five clubs that could be in the mix for Suarez.

New York Mets

The Mets arguably missed the playoffs due to a lack of starting pitching. Suarez's 3.20 ERA in 2025 would've been the second-best on New York's starting staff, behind Kodai Senga. But even that is deceiving, because Senga was optioned to the minor leagues on Sept. 5 due to a 6.18 ERA in August. Suarez's 151 strikeouts would've been the most of the rotation as well, one more than David Peterson's 150. With Peterson, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill all on expiring deals, stealing Suarez from a division rival would be a significant upgrade.

Atlanta Braves

Another NL East foe that could lure Suarez from Philadelphia is the Braves. Atlanta went 76-86 during the 2025 season, finishing fourth in the division and missing the playoffs. The club dealt with a multitude of injuries, especially to its starting rotation, namely Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo Lopez (who missed the entire season). With each of these pitchers' statuses up in the air for 2026, adding Suarez would be a wise investment. 

Chicago Cubs

After finishing in second place in the NL Central, the Cubs defeated the Padres in the wild-card round before being dispatched by the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago could look much different next season, particularly its rotation, which only has two players below the age of 30. Their best pitcher, Matthew Boyd, will enter his age-35 season in 2026, while Colin Rea is 35 and Jameson Taillon is 33. Suarez will be 31 next August, so he makes them slightly younger, while also acting as a mentor to their young pitchers, 24-year-old Cade Horton and 26-year-old former Phillies prospect Ben Brown. 

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles severely underperformed in 2025, going 75-87 and finishing in last place in the AL East, only two years removed from a 101-win campaign. Baltimore's starting rotation was an apparent weakness, as each member had an ERA above 4.00, except for Trevor Rogers, who had a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts. Adding an experienced lefty like Suarez could help the Orioles get back on track in 2026.

San Diego Padres

As mentioned, the Padres lost in the wild-card series to the Cubs after finishing second in the NL West with a 90-72 record in the 2025 season. San Diego has a strong club, but is set to lose both Dylan Cease and Michael King to free agency. The only pitcher they have locked in is Nick Pivetta, and he's unlikely to sustain the career-best form he put forth in 2025. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish is pushing 40, and Randy Vasquez is a question mark. Therefore, signing Suarez, Pivetta's former teammate, to solidify the middle of their rotation would be a smart move by general manager A.J. Preller.