Phillies could move 2024 All-Star to bullpen

While the Philadelphia Phillies are not in dire straits, they have dropped five straight games and are falling behind the New York Mets in the National League East hunt. Rob Thomson’s team currently sits at 37-28 but has been dealing with a debilitating weakness throughout the season.

The Phillies’ bullpen currently ranks among the worst units in Major League Baseball, a trend that cannot continue should this group play in October.  Scott Lauber, an MLB reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, ultimately suggested that there could be a scenario where the franchise moves Ranger Suárez to the bullpen.

The 29-year-old starter has had an encouraging season and is coming off his first All-Star appearance in 2024. Lauber, however, details why Suárez would be a terrific fit in the bullpen if need be. 

“Based on experience, Suárez figures to have more impact as a temporary reliever than any of the Phillies’ starters,” Lauber asserts. “What the 29-year-old lefty lacks in fastball octane, he makes up for with big-game guts. He’s also chiller than a refrigerator, as evidenced by his 1.43 postseason ERA, the lowest ever for a Phillies’ pitcher with at least 20 playoff innings.

It’s complicated, though. Suárez is eligible for free agency after the season, and a move to the bullpen could diminish his earning power. But the Phillies likely wouldn’t shift Suárez into a relief role until late in the season — and only if every other starter stays healthy.”

Suárez’s versatility is crucial for the Phillies as they navigate this uneven season. For now, the lefty’s services are most useful as a starter, but should the bullpens’ struggles continue, this might be a move that Rob Thomson considers more realistically. The Pies de Cuesta, Venezuela native was recently asked about this possibility and seemed somewhat open to the idea. 

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“That’s a tough one,” Suárez said about a month ago. “I would say that I want to be in the rotation all of the time. I want to be a starter all of the time. But if it’s for the team’s sake, if it’s to win something, if it’s to get the World Series, I’m willing to do anything.”

It’s all hands on deck for the Phillies as they try to emerge as a legitimate World Series contender in 2025. The bullpen issue has be resolved one way or another at some point in 2025. 

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