Dodgers Show Strong Interest in Top Free-Agent Bullpen Arm as Market Heats Up

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to search for reliable bullpen arms.

As Clutch Points noted, former Padres closer Robert Suarez has rapidly become one of the most serious options on their radar. 

Multiple reports from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo indicate that Los Angeles has “shown interest” in Suarez. 

They are exploring a shorter-term deal with a higher annual value for the right-hander.

Suarez owns a 2.91 ERA across the last four seasons and has emerged as one of the top relievers available after the Dodgers missed on several earlier bullpen targets. 

“Pete Fairbanks remains on the market at likely a lesser price than Suarez, but the Dodgers have not been engaged on that front,” they wrote.

The interest underscores the Dodgers’ urgent need to solidify the closer role after Tanner Scott’s uneven 2025 season. 

There is increasing pressure to shore up the back end of their bullpen and Suarez could be the perfect fit. 

Robert Suarez’s Rise to Elite Closer Status

If the Dodgers want immediate stability in the ninth inning, Suarez’s resume speaks loudly.  

The 35-year-old has been one of MLB’s most dominant relievers since arriving from Japan in 2022. 

He has piled up multiple All-Star selections, a great ERA, and consistent high-leverage success. 

In 2025, Suarez delivered the best season of his major-league career:

He had the most saves in the MLB with 40, a 2.97 ERA and a 75/16 K/BB ratio. 

In four seasons, he has a 2.91 career ERA and 219 strikeouts. 

He also produced 36 saves in 2024, giving him 76 saves over the last two seasons, the highest two-year total in the league. 

Suarez has posted a 2.87 ERA, struck out 25.4% of hitters, walked only 6.1%, and continued to suppress home runs at one of the strongest rates among relievers. 

The Dodgers know Suarez well and sometimes too well. 

He infamously sparked a benches-clearing incident in 2025 after drilling Shohei Ohtani on a 3-0 pitch last summer. 

But the interaction ultimately softened, with Ohtani and Suarez joking about it at the All-Star Game. 

FanGraphs projects Suarez to land a two or three-year deal worth $15-16 million annually, placing him squarely in the Dodgers’ preferred contract structure. 

Why the Dodgers Need Bullpen Help 

Even with their star-heavy roster that helped bring the Dodgers another World Series title,  the Dodgers’ bullpen was a glaring weakness in 2025. 

Their investment in Tanner Scott last offseason backfired. 

Scott recorded a league-leading 10 blown saves and the Dodgers ranked in the bottom third of MLB in save conversion rate. 

Many of LA’s losses traced back to late-inning vulnerability, emphasizing the need for a big time bullpen arm. 

Suarez would perfectly fill that need. 

His ability to miss bats, work efficiently, and maintain poise in tight spots is exactly what the Dodgers lacked.

With Edwin Díaz’s price tag expected to soar beyond L.A.’s comfort zone, Suarez represents the top realistic option remaining. 

The Dodgers have spent years watching the right-hander dominate them from 95 miles down the coast. 

Now, they are pushing to make him the solution to their biggest roster need. 

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