Braves steal $45M flamethrower reliever, leaving Blue Jays and NL East rival Mets empty-handed

Hunter Cookston

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Braves steal $45M flamethrower reliever, leaving Blue Jays and NL East rival Mets empty-handed image

The Atlanta Braves have been relatively quiet so far at the winter meetings after missing out on closer Edwin Diaz and several other targets. However, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos made a power move on Thursday by signing closer Robert Suarez to a three-year deal, solidifying the back end of the bullpen for years to come.

“Closer Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan posted.

Atlanta recognized the need for bullpen help after some struggles appeared during the season. After missing out on Diaz, landing a top reliever became essential, and acquiring Suarez does just that. Adding Suarez to the bullpen alongside a strong rotation already in place makes the Braves’ pitching staff a nightmare for lineups across the MLB.

“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,” Passan wrote.

The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays were also in on the Suarez sweepstakes, but the Braves didn’t waste any time finalizing a deal.

“Heard Blue Jays and Mets were checking in regularly on Robert Suarez, but didn’t make formal offers because Atlanta moved quickly, landing one of the top relievers available for $45 million over three years,” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith posted.

The Braves weren’t going to let any team swoop in and take Suarez, so they acted quickly to secure him. The Blue Jays remain an attractive team, having nearly knocked off the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Anthopoulos is aiming for a big offseason after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Signing Suarez is a strong step forward, but the Braves still need to add another starter and a shortstop with a potent bat. There is more work to be done, but landing Suarez is certainly a major move in the right direction.

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