The Philadelphia Phillies are aware that they may lose two of their greatest players from recent years, as left-hander Ranger Suarez and left-handed hitting designated hitter Kyle Schwarber are poised to reach the free agent market. On a daily basis, Schwarber is a better player than Suarez, but there is a solid case to be made that Suarez is one of the best left-handed starters in Major League Baseball, as he has demonstrated in recent seasons.
The Phillies will also have to be cautious about letting Suarez walk, as getting rid of starting pitching is rarely a wise move. If they have the money to make the move, they should, but if they don’t, the New York Mets appear to be ready to do it.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic was the latest to speculate, tying the Mets to the Phillies’ left-hander and claiming that he may sign a six-year contract for $164 million.
“Over the previous two seasons, Suárez has been one of baseball’s most reliable left-handed starters, making a total of 53 starts with an ERA and FIP both around 3.30. He does not throw hard, but his secondary pitches are quite effective, and he delivers strikes. Given that he has just 762 major-league innings under his belt, the southpaw could generate a lot of attention. Best team fits: Phillies, Mets, Braves, Orioles, Cubs, Padres, Giants, Astros, Tigers. Bowden predicted a contract of $164 million over six years.
Do the Phillies Want to Spend Big in Free Agency?
Suarez and the Philadelphia Phillies have an excellent connection, but it is probable that money will be the deciding factor.
The New York Mets have as much money as any Major League Baseball team, probably with the exception of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, it’s unclear whether Steve Cohen intends to take that road again.
Suarez appeared to enjoy his time in Philadelphia while meeting with media after the season, according to Phillies Nation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
“I mean, it’s love for everyone here: the staff, the team (staff), and the teammates. The excellent moments that we had from the 2022 playoffs onward, as well as all of the preparation that lead us to this streak of playoff appearances. During these years, I experienced many positive aspects of the team as well as a few negative aspects. “That’s what I get out of it,” he remarked.
Could the Mets Look From Within to Bolster the Rotation?
The New York Mets might also look at their present youthful core and strive to improve on it in the future. It may not be the greatest idea for the Mets to do so given their aim to win a title in the near future, but Anthony DiComo of MLB.com identified it as one of the five issues they’ll have to face this winter.
“If prices remain too high for Stearns’ liking, he may break character and invest heavily in a top free agent such as Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, or Michael King. Otherwise, the Mets will place a high value on incumbent alternatives Nolan McLean (No. 1 prospect, No. 11 overall according to MLB Pipeline), Brandon Sproat (No. 5 prospect), Jonah Tong (No. 4 prospect, No. 46 overall), Christian Scott, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga. “Adding a mid-rotation arm will not significantly augment that group,” he added.