Four potential landing spots for Ranger Suárez with contract predictions

After eight seasons with the Phillies, Ranger Suárez is a free agent.

He is expected to reject the qualifying offer from the Phillies by the Nov. 18 deadline. In an ideal world, the Phillies would love to retain all four priority free agents in Suárez, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Harrison Bader. Suárez will likely find a better offer elsewhere.

Suárez in 2025 finished with a career-high 157 1/3 innings pitched, posting a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts.

As one of the better free agent starting pitchers on the market, Suárez could command a deal north of $100 million. Which teams around the league are the best fits for Ranger? The Phillies Nation staff shared their thoughts in the latest roundtable.

Corey Seidman — Staff Writer — Red Sox — 5 years, $125 million

The Red Sox have a thin rotation beyond Garrett Crochet, and who knows whether Brayan Bello’s ERA will again be a full run lower than his peripherals suggest.

Ranger fits so many clubs — from the major-market, pitching-needy ones like the Red Sox, Cubs and, (gulp) yes, Mets, to lesser spenders like the Orioles or anyone in either Central division.

I just think the Red Sox stick out as a team that both needs starting pitching and might be willing to bite on a contract averaging roughly $25 million a year for five years. I also have a hunch that if most offers are similar, Ranger will opt for the one that comes with the best chance to win and play in front of engaged fans. Barring a massive overpay, it’s just hard to imagine him taking his talents to a 72-win team that plays in a half-filled house, given his demeanor, experience and knack for coming through in the biggest moments.

Bailey Digh — Staff Writer — Blue Jays — 6 years, $140 million

Coming off a trip to the World Series, it sounds like the Blue Jays are looking to be big players in free agency this offseason. Starting pitching is likely a need in Toronto; most of their returning arms aren’t rock-solid options.

The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported on Tuesday that the Blue Jays are eyeing top-of-the-market starters, naming Suarez as someone in that group. Suarez would be more than a top-market addition to Toronto’s starting staff. He’d bring a different look and a strong October resume. Only two teams had less starts by left-handed pitchers in 2025 than the Blue Jays’ 20. Maybe that means they’ll favor the lefty starters on the free-agent market this winter. And, for a team that’ll be eyeing another postseason run in 2026, adding the pitcher – Suarez –  who’s sixth in postseason ERA (1.48, min. 40 IP) would make a lot of sense.

Destiny Lugardo — Site Director — Orioles — 5 years, $130 million with opt out after year 2

It’s about time the Orioles stopped acting like cowards in free agency. Baltimore has badly needed frontline starting pitching for years. Suárez is not a No. 1, but he’s better than what they have. Mike Elias has had a fascination with Phillies pitchers in the past, trading for both Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto at the 2024 trade deadline. The only question is whether or not the Orioles have the appetite to surrender a second-round draft pick to sign Suárez. Elias may prefer to deal from the club’s existing pool of prospects to acquire frontline pitching.

Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer — Cubs — 4 years, $110 million

The Cubs perennially shop in the second tier of the free agent market. No Trea Turner, yes Dansby Swanson. No Yoshinobu Yamamoto, yes Shōta Imanaga. No Shohei Ohtani, yes Cody Bellinger. They’ll price themselves out of the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, but especially after a curious decision not to pick up Imanaga’s three-year option, Suárez is someone to whom they could pivot. I could see the Cubs being keen on someone who shouldn’t have a fly-ball-home-run problem at Wrigley Field and Suárez’s market (given injury history and the Scott Boras factor) trending toward a relatively shorter-term, higher-AAV deal. The Ricketts family’s self-imposed frugality is a bummer, but the Cubs are still competitive and should be players in, again, that Tier B of the free agent class. It’s a good match — and Chicago Suárez would match this vibe exquisitely.