Robert Suarez Is the High-Leverage Reliever the Blue Jays Need

Bryan Jaeger · December 10, 2025

Putting aside the Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker rumors, the Toronto Blue Jays' primary goal for the rest of this offseason is to improve their bullpen. Speaking to reporters (including DiamondCentric's John Bonnes) at the Winter Meetings, manager John Schneider said the bullpen "sticks out" as an area in need of help. Adding a high-leverage arm, he continued, should be a "priority."

The Los Angeles Dodgers complicated things for Toronto by signing Edwin Díaz on Day 2 of the Winter Meetings. The former New York Met agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract, a raise from the $38 million over two years he had remaining on his contract with the Mets (that he opted out of). With Díaz off the board, only one surefire upgrade over Jeff Hoffman remains: Robert Suarez.

Suarez opted out of the remaining two years and $16 million on his contract with the San Diego Padres. It was a wise decision, given that he is 35 and looking to earn around $15-20 million annually in a new deal. The righty has been one of the game's most elite relievers since he entered the major leagues in 2022. In three of his four seasons, he's posted an ERA under 3.00 with more than 47 innings pitched and held batters to a batting average under .190. He's also converted 76 of 87 save opportunities in the last two seasons when his role shifted to full-time closer.

Baseball Savant ranked Suarez's fastball velocity last season (98.6 mph) in the 97th percentile. This firepower and his three-pitch arsenal, which also includes a changeup and sinker, helped him strike out a career high 75 batters last season. In terms of consistency, he'd be a massive upgrade over Hoffman, who was an unreliable closer for the Blue Jays last season. He threw 68 innings and posted a 4.37 ERA. While most of his underlying numbers were stronger, as is his track record, he struggled with giving up home runs. Hoffman allowed 15 long balls, the most among AL relievers. In his first crack at being a full-time closer, he blew seven of his 40 save opportunities, with a negative Win Probability Added.

During the postseason this season, Hoffman was surprisingly elite. He posted a 1.46 ERA over 12 1/3 innings and held batters to a .143 batting average. He only allowed one home run, but it came off the bat of Miguel Rojas in the top of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series to tie the game up and send it to extra innings.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi has reported that the Blue Jays and Mets are some of the top suitors to sign Suarez. This isn't the first time they have been linked to the righty. The reliever market is dwindling quickly, so if the Blue Jays want to boost their bullpen, they'll need to move fast. The best remaining options after Suarez include Kenley Jansen, Shawn Armstrong, Tyler Rogers, and Pete Fairbanks.

If the Blue Jays can't sign Suarez, it may be best to turn to internal options, such as Louis Varland and Braydon Fisher, for high-leverage opportunities. Re-signing Seranthony Domínguez is another possibility.

The Blue Jays outrighted Yariel Rodríguez on the weekend, opening a spot on their 40-man roster. That means they still have a free space for an outside addition even after selecting Spencer Miles in the Rule 5 draft.

However, it's more than possible that the Blue Jays roll the dice on Hoffman as closer for another season, with the hope that he returns to his 2023 and 2024 form. He posted a 2.28 ERA with 158 strikeouts to 35 walks in his two years with the Philadelphia Phillies.

That said, even if it's not a closer, the Blue Jays still need a boost in the middle innings. The American League World Series representatives are primed to make another deep postseason run in 2026, but there are still improvements to be made.

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