They say paying top dollar for a reliever is never a good idea, especially when he is 31 years old already.
The San Diego Padres, however, gave Robert Suarez a five-year, $46 million deal and didn’t look back.
They took a risk, knowing that they could lose him in free agency.
It could also be an extremely worthwhile signing, especially after seeing him in action during the postseason.
An MLB insider and former general manager weighed in on Suarez’s deal.
In a vacuum, he says it is a lot to pay for a bullpen piece, but other circumstances made it worth doing.
“The #Padres signing of Robert Suarez to a 5-year $46 million dollar deal is an over-pay for a set-up reliever but when you factor in that he’ll probably be their closer from 2024 and beyond it will end up being an extremely undervalued deal,” Bowden tweeted.
The #Padres signing of Robert Suarez to a 5-year $46 million dollar deal is an over-pay for a set-up reliever but when you factor in that he'll probably be their closer from 2024 and beyond it will end up being an extremely undervalued deal.
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) November 11, 2022
Bowden is referring to Josh Hader‘s future with the team.
The Padres traded for Hader before this year’s deadline, and after a rocky start, he was marvelous.
He is, however, under control for the 2023 campaign.
The Future Padres Closer
After that, he will become a free agent and may seek something close to what Edwin Diaz recently signed with the New York Mets.
That’s a price that the Padres definitely won’t pay, so they decided to secure a top closer by extending their best setup man and having him ready in case Hader departs after next season.
Suarez is more than prepared to pitch in any role in relief: he already knows what it’s like to pitch in high-leverage situations.
He is not perfect, as the famous Bryce Harper at-bat in the Championship Series proves, but who is?
He dominated the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers before that day.
He was also brilliant in the regular season, with a 2.27 ERA in 47.2 frames.
If health cooperates, he could prove to be a bargain.
NEXT: Wil Myers May Not Yet Be Done In San Diego