Could Ranger Suárez pitch out of the bullpen at some point in 2025. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
Ranger Suárez will return to the starting rotation for the Phillies on Sunday. But is that where he'll spend the entirety of his contract year?
By all accounts, there was no real consideration by Dave Dombrowski, Rob Thomson and the Phillies to bringing Suárez back as a reliever to help fix what's been one of the worst bullpens in baseball over the first month and change of the season. With that said, Suárez has high-leverage bullpen experience, so the idea of him pitching out of the bullpen at some point this season — particularly after Andrew Painter joins the starting rotation this summer — isn't crazy.
Suárez was asked Thursday what he would think if the Phillies approached him later this year and asked him to pitch out of the bullpen.
"Obviously, it's gonna to depend on the context," Suárez said through interpreter Diego D'Aniello. "That's a tough one. I obviously want to be in the rotation all the time — I want to be a starter. But if it's for the team's sake ... if it's to win something ... if it's to get to the World Series, then I'm willing to do anything."
The video of Suárez's answer — which we have courtesy of Dave Uram of KYW NewsRadio — is worth watching for context as well because you can see him take a pause before answering to really think about what he's about to say:
While Dave Dombrowski and Rob Thomson have said Ranger Suárez is a starting pitcher, Ranger was asked would if he would be open to moving to the bullpen at some point if they approached him for help there. #Phillies @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/sgmTGQKecT
There is a reality here that Suárez is in a contract year and he's going to make the most next offseason as a starting pitcher. The Phillies could decide that's not their problem, but that wouldn't be a good look on a variety of fronts. First of all, it would be doing wrong by someone that's been a crucial piece on some really good teams. Second of all, Suárez is represented by Scott Boras, and it's generally not a good idea of upset the most powerful agent in the sport.
The right answer here is probably to do exactly what the Phillies are right now. Suárez has had a ton of success as a full-time starting pitcher over the last three seasons. So put him there, and see what happens. Does his back hold up? Does Painter come up later this summer and leave the Phillies with six or seven starting pitchers? Does the bullpen improve, and if not, can Dombrowski acquire an impact arm or two to bolster it? There is time for these things to work themselves out.
But might there come a point in August or September where shifting Suárez to the bullpen makes sense? If you have four or five other healthy, capable starters, then yes. And at that point, if winning is his No. 1 focus, Suárez — in his potential final act as a Phillie — might be wise to accept a role like what Zach Eflin had in the 2022 postseason.
