Philadelphia Phillies free agent Ranger Suarez is reportedly getting interest from many teams.
The Philadelphia Phillies have made some moves this offseason, such as re-signing Kyle Schwarber and bringing in Adolis Garcia, but one of their top free agents is still on the market, as Ranger Suarez is still looking for a home for the 2026 season.
The Phillies do need more starting pitching depth, so re-signing Suarez would make sense for Philadelphia. That said, there are plenty of other teams that need pitching and are willing to pay for it, and one MLB insider gave an update about where things stand with the ace.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently noted that “Like [Framber] Valdez, Suárez has been linked to the Mets and Orioles throughout the winter, which is hardly a surprise given their respective needs for starting pitching. But Suárez is two years younger than Valdez, making him a more appealing option for potential suitors.”
One bigger factor Feinsand pointed out that could set him apart from Valdez and earn him a bigger contract is that the former Phillies pitcher has had more recent playoff success.
“Both left-handers have ample postseason experience, and while both have had success in October, Suárez’s dominance in the playoffs could separate him from Valdez despite the latter’s reputation as an innings-eating workhorse,” wrote Feinsand
Suarez pitched in 11 games, eight being starts, since the 2022 season. Over those appearances, he has a 1.48 ERA and a 1.055 WHIP, proving that he can pitch in the big spotlight and not be affected by the moment.
While the Mets and Orioles are the two teams Feinsand initially points out, he also mentions “The Braves, Cubs and Angels are also looking for pitching help, with Suárez – another player who rejected a qualifying offer – among the potential targets.”
The discouraging pieces of this for Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies are that Feinsand makes no mention of the Phillies being in the mix.
That’s not to say they aren’t, but with how many teams appear in on Suarez, the Phillies organization should at least be preparing for the possibility that the All-Star pitcher won’t be back in Philadelphia next season.