As all Philadelphia Phillies fans know by now, the team will be without José Alvarado for 80 games and the postseason. The Phillies' bullpen is down to two left-handed pitchers in Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks.
While everyone is asking the questions about who will step up in the current bullpen, and who might the Phillies trade for, the mistake the team is making is not considering the in-house option of Ranger Suárez, who is right in front of them.
According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the Phillies are not considering putting Suárez in the bullpen.
Why Ranger Suárez is the Phillies' best option to save the bullpen
The Phillies do not have depth when it comes to the bullpen, especially left-handed pitching, while the starting pitching is a deep position group this season. This group only got stronger this past weekend as well, after the performance Mick Abel turned in for the ball club.
Suárez has been a fan favorite throughout his Phillies tenure, which started in the bullpen before the Phillies moved him to a starter. He has experience in the role and excelled as a left-handed reliever. He had 68 appearances from the bullpen from 2018 to 2021.
In 2021, he finished the season with a 1.12 ERA as a reliever in 40 1/3 innings of work. His only full season as a reliever was in 2019, with 37 games and 48 2/3 innings of work, posting a 3.14 ERA. In the 2022 postseason run, he pitched out of the bullpen twice, including earning the save in the NLCS Game 5 victory over the San Diego Padres, sending the Phillies to the World Series.
This is the final year he is under contract, as it expires at the end of the season. With the trade for Jesús Luzardo, the potential emergence of Mick Abel and the upcoming excitement around Andrew Painter, Suárez seems to be on his way out. This would be a move for now and a potential future move to keep the left-hander in Philadelphia. Alvarado’s contract has a club option for 2026, so if the recent suspension ends his era in Philadelphia, Suárez can be the short- and long-term solution if he is open to the switch.
The Phillies not even looking into this potential move is a mistake, as Suárez has shown how much he loves it in Philadelphia. He has proven himself as a reliever in the past, and he has shown he is willing to do what is best for the team, switching between starter and reliever back and forth. This also potentially could keep him healthier as well for the full season, lowering his innings with the continued back issues over the last two seasons.
Facing the awful reality that Alvarado has left them in a desperate spot, the Phillies need to take advantage of a strong area of the team. Adding Suárez to the bullpen would strengthen an area of weakness and make this team deeper and better long-term, at least until a trade acquisition is made for the rest of the season.