The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly not expecting to re-sign free agent pitcher Ranger Suarez, who is coming off an All-Star season.
Suarez pitched 157.1 innings last season, putting up a solid 3.20 ERA and a 12-8 record. His ERA+ was 137, well above average, while his FIP was 3.21, indicating that he did not benefit from excellent fielding that would have otherwise inflated his ERA. More notably, his 2025 season was valued at 4.7 bWAR, marking his best year based on that metric since 2021.
The southpaw had such an impressive season at the perfect time, as he will enter the open market at the ripe age of 29. Initially, the Phillies were expected to bring him back on a reasonable deal, but new reports suggest otherwise.
According to R. J. Anderson of CBS Sports, Philadelphia is preparing to lose Suarez and will not be entering the market for another starting pitcher. The Phillies already have two other lefty starters in Jesus Luzardo and Cristopher Sanchez, both of whom are higher-end arms with elite stuff.
While the president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, has not shut the door on Suarez returning, he appears to be looking to add another depth arm rather than a high-priced pitcher.
“I can’t say we wouldn’t,” Dombrowski told The Athletic. “But, again, it’s not our highest priority. You have to be careful. You always need to look for starting pitching depth. That doesn’t necessarily mean top of the market, but where does that fit in? Because you never have enough starting pitching, and really for us, after you get past [the top six starters]…”
As the Phillies prepare for the upcoming season, their focus seems to be on maintaining a balanced rotation without overspending on big-name free agents. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team fills the potential gap left by Suarez’s departure.
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https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/phillies-reportedly-unlikely-to-bring-back-veteran-all-star-11056314
