The Padres have already seen one major piece walk out the door in free agency, as Dylan Cease inked a massive seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays — the largest free-agent contract in that franchise’s history.
But Cease may not be the only departure. San Diego currently has a sizable group of contributors on the open market, including Michael King, Robert Suarez, Nestor Cortes, Ryan O’Hearn, Jurickson Profar, Luis Arraez, and José Iglesias. That’s a significant chunk of talent, and the front office will be juggling multiple priorities as it works to patch roster gaps over the coming months. Expect the Padres to pursue a top-tier starter aggressively and seek out a big bat, likely to fortify first base.
With the Padres’ recent acquisition of fireballer Mason Miller, Robert Suarez’s role — and value to San Diego — has diminished somewhat. As a result, the odds of him returning are slim. To make matters worse for the fanbase, his predicted destination hits close to home.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, Suarez is projected to sign a five-year, $80 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bowden notes that Suarez would become the Dodgers’ primary closer, a move that would let Roki Sasaki transition back into a full-time starting role. For Padres fans, the thought of Suarez joining their fiercest divisional rival is a tough pill to swallow. Not only would they lose a trusted late-inning arm, but they’d also have to face him repeatedly each season — and Suarez would no doubt bring extra fire into those matchups.
For Los Angeles, adding Suarez would address a major need. Their bullpen lacked consistent high-leverage depth throughout 2025, and securing an experienced closer would give them greater stability — and more flexibility — in tight games. It’s daunting to imagine the Dodgers improving even further, but Bowden’s projection paints exactly that picture.