After signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Braves on Thursday, Robert Suarez spoke about what led him to Atlanta.
When asked why he chose the Braves over other interested teams, Suarez made it clear that the organization’s reputation played a major role.
“I continue to hear so many good things about the team, this organization, the way they treat their players, and the city of Atlanta itself,” Suarez said via Lindsay Crosby of Locked on Braves.
The 34-year-old right-hander also noted that he got some help from his new teammates during the process.
He talked to outfielder Jurickson Profar, who signed with Atlanta last offseason, and even got a voicemail from star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. soon after.
That kind of outreach from current players clearly made a difference in his decision.
What Suarez Brings to Atlanta
Suarez is coming off an impressive 2025 campaign where he led the National League with 40 saves while posting a 2.97 ERA in 70 appearances for the San Diego Padres.
He made his second straight All-Star team and struck out 75 batters in 69.2 innings. Over his four MLB seasons, Suarez has a career 2.91 ERA with 77 total saves.
What makes Suarez so tough to hit is his electric fastball. His four-seamer averaged 98.6 mph last season and opponents hit just .155 against it.
He threw the pitch over 60% of the time and it ranked among the best in baseball.
Only a handful of pitchers like Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley threw harder.
He also mixes in a changeup that sits around 90 mph and a sinker that clocks in at 98.4 mph, giving hitters different looks while still bringing the heat.
The hard-throwing reliever will slot into a setup role behind closer Raisel Iglesias, giving Atlanta one of the best late-inning duos in baseball.
Iglesias, who re-signed with the Braves in November on a one-year, $16 million deal, had 29 saves and a 3.21 ERA in 2025 while leading the NL with 57 games finished.
Braves Busy This Offseason
The Suarez signing is part of a flurry of moves by general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who is looking to bounce back after the Braves went 76-86 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Atlanta finished fourth in the NL East, and it was their first losing season since that same year.
The bullpen was a big problem last season, as Braves relievers posted the seventh-worst ERA in the National League at 4.19.
Along with Suarez, the Braves have added outfielder Mike Yastrzemski on a two-year, $23 million deal and acquired infielder Mauricio Dubón from the Astros.
They also brought back Iglesias after declining options on Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley earlier in the offseason.
With these additions, Atlanta is sending a clear message that they are ready to compete again in 2026.
