ORLANDO, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves have secured a three-year, $45 million deal with right-handed reliever Robert Suarez, who previously closed for the San Diego Padres.
Suarez will primarily serve as a setup man and a backup for Raisel Iglesias, the Braves’ closer for the last four seasons. Iglesias just signed a one-year, $16 million extension recently.
As he turns 35 on Opening Day, Suarez brings an interesting career history. Last season, he made his second All-Star appearance and led the National League with 40 saves, totaling 76 saves since the start of 2024, which is the highest in Major League Baseball.
The addition of Suarez is a strong move for the Braves, allowing them to maintain a high level of performance in late-game situations. This is particularly beneficial if Iglesias, who will be 36 in January, needs a break during a long winning streak or any demanding stretch of games.
Suarez began his career about a decade ago, briefly playing in Mexico before moving to Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). There, he found success as a reliever and later became a standout closer for the Hanshin Tigers. After the 2021 season, he landed his first major league contract with the Padres worth $11 million over two years.
Currently, Suarez is recognized as one of the top free agents. He was previously projected to earn $54 million over three years. Known for his fastball capabilities, Suarez has consistently thrown in the upper 90s, even hitting 101 mph at times. This velocity and his solid command led him to a more lucrative five-year, $46 million deal with San Diego after the 2022 season.
However, Suarez’s aggressive pitching style does have its risks. He tends to rely heavily on his four-seamer and sinker, throwing those pitches 87% of the time in 2024, dropping to 80% in 2025. Elbow inflammation limited his 2023 season, which may have accelerated his fastball-dependent approach. While his heat is impressive, he sometimes struggles with consistency, evident in a career-high hard-hit rate of 42.6% in 2025.
Suarez’s new contract includes a salary of $13 million in 2026, followed by $16 million in 2027 and 2028. This raises potential for him to take on a primary closer role if Iglesias departs after the next season.
In today’s game, having a strong bullpen is essential. As teams focus on building reliable, deep pitching staffs, Suarez’s blend of experience and talent could be a game-changer for the Braves. This strategy is backed by recent statistics showing teams with effective relief pitchers often outperform those without, making the Braves’ investment in Suarez a promising move for their upcoming seasons.
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Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, MLB
