Phillies, Rangers Could Solve Bullpen Issues by Adding $35 Million Closer

Contributing Sports Writer

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Closers and back-end relievers will be in high demand in July for contending teams. That's how baseball works, and it happens every year.

However, most teams that acquire a closer do so from a team that is selling at the trade deadline. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report suggested the San Diego Padres could move on from closer Robert Suarez despite currently being in a playoff race.

San Diego Padres, Reliever, Robert Suarez — NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 5: Robert Suarez #75 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 5, 2025... Matt Thomas/Getty Images

"Trading away maybe the best closer in all of baseball while right in the thick of a playoff push would certainly be an unorthodox decision," wrote Miller. "If the season ended today, there's about a 1000 percent chance Robert Suarez would opt out of the remaining two years of his contract. The 34-year-old All-Star would be liable to fetch something on par with the four-year, $72 million deal Tanner Scott got this past offseason."

If the Padres were to try and move on from Suarez, the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers would be suitable landing spots.

The Phillies have seen success from Jose Alvarado, Joe Ross, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks. However, the Jordan Romano experiment has been a disaster. Philadelphia would be an ideal location for Suarez, who could form a 1-2 punch with Alvarado in the eighth and ninth innings.

As for the Rangers, they have also seen four relievers have success this season: Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, Hoby Milner and Shawn Armstrong. However, closer Luke Jackson has a 6.00 ERA through his 15 appearances.

"We've already noted that Texas will almost certainly be on the hunt for a closer," wrote Miller. "Atlanta could be, too, if Raisel Iglesias continues to flounder. Possibly Boston in due time, as well, but so far so good with Aroldis Chapman. Someone always desperately wants a closer, though, and maybe San Diego capitalizes on that."

Miller does not mention the Phillies specifically, but the baseball world saw the Phillies make a splash for a closer last year at the trade deadline by adding Carlos Estevez. There's a chance they could do it again, and these two teams could be on their way to a bidding war for Suarez.

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