Sign Robert Suarez
Prior to the Mets letting Diaz go in free agency, they were still looking for bullpen upgrades after signing Devin Williams. Now it’s time they pivot to Robert Suarez. After Diaz and Williams, MLB Trade Rumors listed Suarez as the third-best reliever on the free agent market. The Mets still need bullpen help, and now with Diaz off the board, Suarez is a near-must for the Mets to sign.
Suarez pitched a career-high 70.2 innings for the San Diego Padres while putting up a 2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, and a 0.90 WHIP. He struck out 27.9% of batters he faced with a walk rate of just 5.9%. Although Suarez was below average in limiting hard contact with a 90.5 MPH exit velocity (16th percentile) and 9.1% barrel rate (36th percentile), he still only allowed home runs at a 0.78-per-nine ratio. Suarez has also put up a sub-1.00 HR/9 in three of his four MLB seasons.
The most promising part of Suarez’s 2025 was his continued improvement in locating and a rise in strikeout rate. During Suarez’s 2022 rookie season, his walk rate clocked in at 11%, but he had a 31.7% K% to offset it. Then, between 2023 and 2024, he had a 7.1% BB% but a 22.7% K%. Now, he’s gotten his K% back to a strong rate, while putting up a career-low walk rate, and a career-best 108 Location+. Plus, his 21.9% K%-BB% is a career-best mark.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Suarez to make $48 million over three seasons, while Baseball America has him signing for the same length, but at $54 million. A contract like the one the Mets gave to Williams probably gets the job done for Suarez. Signing him must be the Mets’ fallback after failing to land Diaz.
