Padres News: MLB Expert Questions Offseason Signing of Friars Top Reliever
The San Diego Padres were coming off one of their most successful seasons as a franchise in 2022, they reached the NLCS for the first time since 1998, and things were looking up going into the 2023 season. The bats and pitching were clicking on all cylinders, especially the pitching of Padres' top reliever Robert Suarez.
Suarez had an incredible 2022 postseason as he helped guide the Friars to victory at times. He was rewarded with his great play this past off-season when the team signed him to a five-year deal worth $46 million with an option to opt-out after the third year.
However, things haven't gone according to plan for Suarez or the Padres in 2023. A right elbow inflammation injury has kept Suarez off the field for the entire season so far, raising concerns about his ability to contribute in the near future.
Could the Padres regret this signing already? MLB expert for Bleacher Report Zachary Rymer thinks they could be and says the Suarez contract doesn't look like a good one right now.
The Padres took a substantial risk in extending Manny Machado for $350 million through 2033, and it has yet to pay off as he's gotten off to a rough start to the year.But at least Machado has suited up for the Friars this year, which is more than can be said about Robert Suárez. Inflammation in his right elbow has kept him out of action all year.It's not a great first act in a five-year, $46 million deal that was frankly suspect to begin with. That's a lot of money for any reliever, much less a 32-year-old who can only claim one dominant month in the majors for his career.
With such a significant investment made in Suarez, there is undoubtedly a sense of regret lingering in the minds of the Padres' management. The team had high hopes for him, expecting him to be a crucial part of their bullpen and a reliable weapon in crucial moments, especially during the postseason. However, his prolonged absence due to injury has put a damper on those expectations.
The question on everyone's mind is whether Suarez will be able to return to action this season. The 32-year-old is currently on the 60-day IL, and we're unsure when and if he could return this season.
Only time will tell if the righty reliever can overcome this obstacle and regain his form on the mound. Until then, the Padres will continue to explore other options and rely on their existing roster to fill the void left by Suarez's absence.
We hope he can return to the roster before the season's end.
