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All-Star reliever has unclear future with Padres after deadline addition

What do the Friars do with their star closer?
ByWill Lockwood|
Apr 12, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez (75) tips his hat after San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) makes a leaping catch during the ninth inning to end the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
Apr 12, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez (75) tips his hat after San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) makes a leaping catch during the ninth inning to end the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres shocked all of baseball by unloading the farm system on right-hander Mason Miller in a deal with the Athletics on the eve of the trade deadline. The move made the team’s bullpen indisputably the best in baseball. However, when the 2025 season comes to a close, the future of one of the league's best could be up in the air for the 2026 season.

What should the Padres do with Robert Suarez following 2025 season?

Robert Suarez has consistently been one of the best closers in the league over the past four seasons with the Padres, posting an ERA of 3.00 over that span. The flame-throwing right-hander converted 68 save opportunities during the stretch and has been a massive part of the bullpen’s success

With an opt-out in his contract, Suarez will likely use it in hopes of landing a much more lucrative deal instead of sticking around for just $8 million. After all, his market value sits at almost $12 million, and teams are willing to pay even more than that to secure one of the best closers in baseball.

It seems that the front office prepared for an event like this, as they have now landed their closer of the future in Mason Miller, who is under team control through the 2030 season. Now that they have the 26-year-old Miller on a much cheaper contract, it is almost certain that the Padres won’t try to meet Suarez’s asking price this offseason.

The 34-year-old Suarez was linked to trade rumors of his own at the deadline, but no move ended up being made. It further suggests that San Diego expects him to be out the door in the offseason.

While executives across MLB believed that the Padres paid too high a price to acquire Miller, it makes sense that the move gives the team a secure option at one of the most important positions in baseball. 

Losing a prospect as highly-touted as Leo De Vries really hurts, and it could prove to be costly. But it is amazing to see A.J. Preller get ahead of a highly likely departure.

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