The Atlanta Braves made one of their biggest moves of the offseason by bolstering the team’s bullpen. Former San Diego Padres pitcher Robert Suarez is one of the best closers in baseball and the 2-time All-Star is headed to Atlanta, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Athletic ranked Suarez as the No. 23 rated free agent this offseason. Atlanta is suddenly building one of the most improved bullpens in baseball.
“BREAKING: Closer Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN,” Passan said in a series of December 11, 2025, messages on X. “Between Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta now has two of the five relievers with the most saves over the last two seasons.
“With a healthy Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider, plus a full season of Hurston Waldrep, their pitching could take a huge leap.”
New Braves Pitcher Robert Suarez Is Coming Off Back-to-Back All-Star Seasons
Suarez is coming off back-to-back All-Star campaigns with the Padres. The veteran has had 76 saves over the last two seasons in San Diego, including a career-high 40 in 2025.
“Three-year contracts for 35-year-old relievers are inherently risky, which perhaps explains why Suarez’s deal with the Braves falls a bit short of our projection (three years, $54 million),” The Athletic’s Tim Britton detailed. “But it’s in a logical middle ground between No. 19 rated Devin Williams’ three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets and No. 27 ranked Ryan Helsley’s two-year, $28 million deal with the Orioles.
“Another interesting wrinkle: Suarez, who led the league with 40 saves last season, possibly working as a setup man to Raisel Iglesias, who re-signed with Atlanta for one-year and $16 million.”
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