The free-agent reliever market is turning into a sprint, not a marathon. Teams across the league are moving fast to lock in late-inning help, and the demand has already pushed several notable names off the board. Edwin Diaz went to the Dodgers. Gregory Soto landed in Pittsburgh. Kyle Finnegan returned to Detroit. And the biggest splash came when the Atlanta Braves secured former Padres closer Robert Suarez on a three-year, $45 million deal.
With Suarez now headed to Atlanta as the prize of this year’s bullpen class, the landscape has shifted again — and the list of impact relievers still available is shrinking quickly.
Even with Suarez gone, there’s still action left at the top. Brad Keller, Luke Weaver, Tyler Rogers, Seranthony Dominguez, and Pete Fairbanks remain unsigned, a mix of late-inning experience and high-variance upside that should appeal to playoff hopefuls still building out their bullpen plans.
Several clubs have the motivation — and the openings — to move next. The Blue Jays, looking to stabilize a bullpen that faltered late in 2025, have been surveying the market for additional depth. The Giants are searching for a setup arm or potential closer after watching their relief corps thin out over time. And the Mets, after losing Diaz and signing Devin Williams, are widely expected to add at least one veteran reliever before camps open.
The reliever run isn’t finished. It’s just entering its next stage with the top arms off the table. The scramble for the final wave of dependable late-inning help is officially underway.
