In July, opposing clubs will be looking for closers and back-end relievers. Baseball operates in this manner, and it takes place annually.
However, most clubs who acquire a closer do so from a team that is selling at the trade deadline. Despite being in a postseason competition right now, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report speculated the San Diego Padres might let go of reliever Robert Suarez.
“Trading away maybe the best closer in all of baseball while right in the thick of a playoff push would certainly be an unorthodox decision,” Miller said. “Robert Suarez has a 1000 percent probability of opting out of the final two years of his contract if the season ended today. The 34-year-old All-Star is likely to want a price comparable to Tanner Scott’s four-year, $72 million contract from the previous summer.
If the Padres were to try and move on from Suarez, the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers would be suitable landing spots. The Phillies have experienced success with Jose Alvarado, Joe Ross, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks. However, the Jordan Romano experiment has proven a fiasco. Suarez could form a 1-2 punch with Alvarado in the eighth and ninth innings, making Philadelphia the perfect place for him.
The Rangers have also had success this season with four relievers: Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Robert Garcia, and Chris Martin. But in his 15 outings, closer Luke Jackson has a 6.00 ERA. “We’ve already noted that Texas will almost certainly be on the hunt for a closer,” Miller said. In the event that Raisel Iglesias keeps struggling, Atlanta may be as well. Boston could follow eventually, but Aroldis Chapman is doing well thus far. But perhaps San Diego takes advantage of the fact that someone is constantly in dire need of a closer.
Miller does not name the Phillies explicitly, but the baseball world witnessed the Phillies make a splash for a closer last year at the trade deadline by signing Carlos Estevez. These two teams may be headed to a bidding battle for Suarez if they are able to repeat the feat.
