Role
Ranger Suarez signed a five-year, $130 million deal in January after eight seasons in Philadelphia (per ESPN). He gave Boston 28 starts, an 8-5 record, and a 3.22 ERA over 148.1 innings, made the AL All-Star team, and missed about three weeks in July with a left groin strain. He didn't pitch in the two-game Wild Card Series. For 2027 he's the No. 3 starter, or No. 2 if Sonny Gray leaves.
Outlook
His ERA over the last three years reads 3.46, 3.20, 3.22, so there isn't much mystery here. He mixes six pitches, his four-seamer averaged 91.5 mph, and he struck out 140 while walking 46, per MLB data. His innings are the limit. He averaged about five and a third innings a start, and after the groin injury he went five or fewer in 6 of 11 outings. His salary goes from $7 million to $15 million in 2027 and to $30 million in 2028.
Our take: this is what Boston paid for, a lefty who keeps the ball in the park and keeps his team in the game. Nobody should expect a workhorse. Plan on the bullpen covering the sixth inning every time he pitches.