For his own good, the San Diego Padres Closer Robert Suarez has officially announced his retirement.
The San Diego Padres have a wealth of talented closers.
Of all the major league teams, the Padres have perhaps the most extensive history of closers, stretching from Rollie Fingers to Josh Hader.
Most people agree that Trevor Hoffman is the second-greatest closer in baseball history, behind Mariano Rivera. Rod Beck, Randy Myers, Huston Street, and Rich “Goose” Gossage all had amazing careers. Brad Hand, Kirby Yates, and Craig Kimbrel, who are all still major league pitchers, helped San Diego win games. With the Padres and closers, there is a long history.
The Padres are getting ready for life without left-hander Josh Hader as he is expected to pursue free agency this winter. Hader is going to demand a The Padres simply cannot afford to pay the asking price on a contract worth $100 million or more. The Padres won’t have a reliable closer for the upcoming season if Hader walks away.
Right-handed pitcher Robert Suarez, who can throw hard, is a contender for the position.
Suarez signed a large contract with the Padres last winter. He will earn the same $10 million in 2024 and 2025 as he did in the previous season. After that, he has two $8 million player options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. With the 32-year-old Venezuelan pitcher, the Padres have made a significant investment.
Though he has performed admirably in a setup role, can Suarez help the Padres win games?
Everyone recalls the large homer that Suarez gave up to Bryce Harper for the NLCS in 2022. Closers need to handle big moments, but Robert Suarez has only ever made one save in the major leagues. It’s a little concerning that he lacks major league experience in this capacity.
