"With Devin Williams, Raisel Iglesias, and Ryan Helsley off the board, options at the backend of the bullpen within the free agent market are beginning to shrivel up. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been associated with a host of available names both within the trade market and the free agent pool. It may be unlikely that the team drops $100+ million on Edwin Diaz given his age and the volatility with relievers in general."
"As such, pursuing an option on a short-term deal appears to be what the Dodgers would be more comfortable doing. Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic recently penned an article that dove into the entire offseason plan for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the nuggets revealed by the two reporters indicated that the Dodgers could move for a closer coming from an NL West rival. It aligns with the notion that LA will seek a difference-maker on a one or two-year deal."
"There are some positives and potential negatives pertaining to Suarez. Turning 35 in March, age may be somewhat of a concern. The risk of injury naturally will be higher with a player in their mid-30s. Suarez had some underlying analytics that were not reassuring. He ranked below the 40th percentile in ground-ball rate, average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, and barrel percentage."
Free-agent options for late-inning relievers have diminished after several top closers signed elsewhere. The Dodgers have explored both trade candidates and free agents to bolster the bullpen but appear hesitant to pursue a long-term, $100+ million commitment for volatile relievers. The team prefers a short-term, higher average annual value contract for a proven late-inning arm. Robert Suárez is a reported target, with a 2.91 ERA across the last four seasons and two All-Star nods. Suárez will turn 35, raising injury risk, and ranks below the 40th percentile in several contact metrics, profiling as a fly-ball pitcher.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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