The San Diego Padres’ $46 million bet on dominance has gone bad. The closer they signed to be the anchor of their bullpen for years to come has now left, choosing not to finish the last two years, leaving $16 million on his deal. He pitched in 210 games over four seasons in San Diego and had a 2.91 ERA. But even with those numbers and a second straight All-Star selection, the relationship fell apart.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, “Padres All-Star closer Robert Suarez, who led the NL with 40 saves, has opted out. Had $16M over 2 years to go. Now a free agent.” The Padres are still in shock over the move.

Suarez had two years and $16 million left on his contract, but the team can’t guarantee that money anymore. His leaving means not only a loss for the team but also the end of a season full of drama and divided loyalties.

The numbers on Suarez’s resume show that he is a pitcher at the top of his game.

He pitched 69.2 innings in 2025, striking out 75 batters and walking only 16. His ERA was 2.97. His 40 saves got him picked for the All-Star team for the second year in a row. Robert Suarez had a 2.91 ERA in 210 games over four years with San Diego. This level of consistency is what made the team trust him enough to give him a five-year, $46 million extension after the 2022 season.

Suarez’s rise to fame was not typical, though.

He played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball for six seasons before joining San Diego. He had a 2.81 ERA and 209 strikeouts. Suarez pitched for Mexico’s Saraperos de Saltillo in 2015 and had a 1.71 ERA, 23 saves, and a perfect 5-0 record in 43 games.

That consistency was a big reason why the Padres decided to stay with him for a long time, but this season, that story fell apart.

Suarez hit Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with a 100 mph fastball in the bottom of the ninth at Dodger Stadium in June 2025. He was thrown out of the game and given a three-game suspension, which was later reduced to two games after an appeal.

Suarez denied intentionality, stating through interpreter Pedro Gutiérrez: “It wasn’t intentional. That decision was made by the umpires. I knew there was a warning issued to both clubs. But I obviously wasn’t trying to hit him in that situation.”

The incident and subsequent punishment appear to have altered the trajectory of his tenure.

Padres eye Jarren Duran as Suarez moves on

The Ohtani incident and Suarez’s departure make the Padres rethink their bullpen strategy for 2026. San Diego has been trying to improve its roster for a long time, and losing its most reliable closer speeds up that process a lot. The organization now has to make a tough choice: Should they rebuild the bullpen by signing free agents or look into trades to meet their most urgent needs?

Recent reports say that the Padres are still looking to make trades to improve their roster.

General manager A.J. Preller and the rest of the front office have wanted Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran for a long time. They see him as a key piece in San Diego’s future. For years, Preller has been interested in Duran, and this offseason might finally be the time to make a move.

Christopher Smith of MassLive recently said that Duran could end up in San Diego because the Red Sox have too many outfielders.

“A.J. Preller has coveted Duran for several years, and he’ll finally get the deal done this offseason because it makes sense for the Red Sox, too,” Smith wrote. “Boston has four outfielders, and although they could make it work, trading one of them seems likely.”

The Padres have resources available after Suarez leaves, and they will save $16 million on their payroll over the next two years.

Preller has the tools he needs to go after a Duran trade thanks to this financial flexibility and depth of prospects. Plus, Duran had a good year last year, with 4.6 WAR. This shows he still has the star potential from his breakout year in 2024.

But as the offseason goes on, it’s still unclear if San Diego will go after Duran or look for other outfield targets and younger pitchers.

Meanwhile, one thing is certain, though. The Padres need to turn their loss into a chance by building a team that can compete right away. Getting proven players like Duran could be the key.