Ranger Suárez will hit free agency for the first time this offseason after spending the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia. He’s become a fan favorite — and for good reason. Suárez has pitched like one of the better starters in the major leagues for prolonged stretches. He’s turned in huge playoff outings and even sent the Phillies to a World Series out of the bullpen.
But as the Phillies enter a bit of an uncertain winter, Suárez’s future with the club may be in jeopardy. Should the team re-sign him? Our writers weighed in. Read what they had to say, and then vote in our poll. Results will be revealed later this offseason.
Previous editions of Stay or Go:
Destiny Lugardo — Site Director — Stay
Suárez signing a long-term deal this offseason isn’t a given. We’ve seen this before with Scott Boras clients who have a qualifying offer attached. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger and Pete Alonso have all signed short term, high AAV deals with multiple opt outs so that they could seek that nine figure deal without the QO attached in a future offseason. The Phillies should be prepared for that scenario, and hopefully be able to work something out with Suárez so that he could return for at least one more season. That’s something they should at least be open to, considering that the Dodgers smothered them in the NLDS with top tier starting pitching.
Ty Daubert — Editorial Director — Go
The left-hander Suárez has been a Phillie his whole career and a postseason weapon for the last four years. He’s recorded crucial outs in some of the most memorable games in recent franchise history, and he’s been a very productive starter when he’s been on the mound. But with a crowded rotation and key players at other positions hitting free agency, the Phillies will likely allow Suárez to walk. He won’t be easy to replace with his cool demeanor and throwback, control-focused style, but the team’s talented staff should be able to work around the loss of an effective pitcher with some durability and velocity concerns.
Bailey Digh — Staff Writer — Go
Suárez might be more of a luxury moving forward. The Phillies should have confidence in their rotation next year without him. They’ll need some starting pitching depth, for sure, but Suárez doesn’t fit that. He’s going to command top-market money in free agency. The Phillies’ money would and should be better spent elsewhere. Starting pitching isn’t a need; other areas are. It’ll sting to see a homegrown player like Suárez walk. But that’s what makes most sense from a business standpoint.. The only way I’d agree to “Stay” is on the qualifying offer. I think someone beats that.
It won’t feel good. It just doesn’t fit. Suárez’s market is going to exceed what it would make sense for the Phillies to pay him, given where they could redirect those resources (including perhaps a Jesús Luzardo extension that might cost less annually). There are Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola questions, but the Phillies’ best path to contention isn’t by paying ace type money to someone who would ideally be their No. 4. It’s going to be a painful goodbye.
