On Jan. 14, the Boston Red Sox bolstered their starting rotation with the reported signing of free-agent pitcher Ranger Suarez. ESPN confirmed, citing a source, multiple reports that the Red Sox have agreed to a five-year, $130 million deal with the former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher.
During his eight seasons with the Phillies, Suarez had a 53-37 record with an ERA of 3.38, 705 strikeouts, and four saves in 187 appearances, per StatMuse.
The question now is, where does Suarez fit in Boston’s rotation? For “Foul Territory’s” Erik Kratz, the Red Sox have added their No. 2 guy to go behind Garrett Crochet.
“[At] the beginning of the offseason, [the Red Sox] were talking about, ‘We’re not looking for any [starting pitchers who are] threes and fours,'” Kratz said on the Jan. 14 edition of “Foul Territory.” “I think that’s where Sonny Gray, [Johan] Oviedo, that’s the route where they live. And [Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is] a man of his word.
“They were going after one of these [top of the rotation starters]. Maybe [they’ll] come out and go after more than just Ranger. But to me, Ranger is a No. 2, and some people say he’s not a No. 2 during the regular season. That’s fine. He is definitely your No. 2 starter in the postseason to go with Garrett Crochet.”
Red Sox Could Have a Steal In Landing Ranger Suarez
Moreover, former MLB player Kevin Frandsen praised the Red Sox’s move to sign Suarez. Frandsen also notes that this move is bigger than keeping Alex Bregman, who left the Red Sox after one season as a free agent to sign with the Chicago Cubs.
“I feel like [the Red Sox] are set up so well,“ Frandsen said on Jan. 14 on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. “Maybe I’m in the minority on this one. Them landing Ranger took him away from the Orioles as well. I think that helps, right? Or the possibility. I look at this, and I go, ‘Okay, them not landing Bregman, but landing Ranger Suarez, might have been a better fit for me.’
“… He has shown that he could pitch in Game 7s. He’s pitched great. But if you need, it’s still one of the coolest guys I’ve ever been around. So for 26 mil a year, too? I’m not going to sit there and say that it’s a huge steal, but it feels like it.”
Ranger Suarez Brings Stability to Red Sox Rotation
Suarez brings a steady presence to the Red Sox rotation. Over the last five seasons, he has posted a 3.25 ERA by leaning on a deep six-pitch mix that helps offset a fastball that does not light up the radar gun, per ESPN.
While the left-hander’s velocity has steadily dipped from 93.4 mph to 92.0 and then 91.2 over the past three years, the results have moved in the opposite direction. The ERA dropped from 4.18 to 3.46, then 3.20, and WAR climbed from 2.4 to 3.4, then to 4.0.
The Phillies extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to Suarez, which was turned down before the Nov. 18 deadline. Now that he has reportedly signed elsewhere, Philadelphia will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round.
Red Sox Hit With Blunt Ranger Suarez Take