Free Agent Profile: Brent Suter, RP

Brent Suter

Position: RP B/T: L/L
Age: 34 (08/29/1989)

2023 Traditional Stats: 57 G (2 GS), 69.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.298 WHIP, 4-3, 55 SO, 25 BB
2023 Advanced Stats: 150 ERA+, 18.8% SO%, 8.6% BB%, 3.18 xERA, 3.44 FIP, 4.48 xFIP, 1.3 fWAR, 0.8 bWAR

Rundown

A Brewer for the first seven seasons of his career, Brent Suter joined the Colorado Rockies in the winter of 2022 as a waiver claim. His Milwaukee years were solid; he went 36-19 over 196 games and struck out 338. He allowed only 98 walks in this time. As confusing as the Josh Hader trade was for the Brewers and baseball community, letting Suter go was equally puzzling.

While Colorado never relied on him to be their close (Milwaukee didn’t either), he served as a reliable piece in the back end of the rotation. In 2023, the Rockies pitching staff ranked dead last in ERA (5.67), 28th in wins (59), first in hits allowed (1599) and 30th in strikeouts (1129). Suter, however, was one of the few bright spots for the team. He led the team in ERA (3.38) and was fifth in batting average against (.249).

Pitching at Coors Field is also no easy feat. Suter excelled and only allowed three home runs the entire year. All three homers came on the road. To do this, the southpaw threw a healthy variety of pitches in 2023, never relying on one go-to. He used his fastball, sinker and changeup equally. Rounding it out, he threw his slider about ten percent of the time, the most of his career.

Suter’s strikeout rate was tied for the lowest of his career, while his walk rate was the highest in 2023. He did, however, make up for this by inducing soft contact. Suter ranked in the 100th percentile at average exit velocity (84 mph), 99th percentile for hard hit percentage (26.3%) and 97th percentile in barrel percentage (3.3%). 

Some cause for concern is his K-BB%, as mentioned above, which has dipped down continuously over his eight years in the majors. However, if he commits to being a pitcher who relies more on inducing soft contact, which trend dictates he is, Suter can continue to have a successful career as a set-up man.

Contract

Fangraph’s crowd-sourced projections have Suter nabbing a one-year $4.7 million contract. For comparison, here is what other relievers received this offseason:

Dakota Hudson: one-year, $1.5 million (Rockies)

Buck Farmer: one-year, $2.25 million (Reds)

Chris Stratton: two-years, $8 million (Royals)

Andrew Chafin: one-year, $4.25 million (Tigers)

Kirby Yates: one-year, $4.5 million (Rangers)

Being a lefty, Suter draws more of a market, and the competition will be tough, possibly spiking his value. However, a one-year deal is still likely.

Recommendation

It’s been some time since the Mets had two reliable left-handed pitchers in their bullpen. Pairing Suter with Brooks Raley would give the Mets not only more flexibility but also a lethal combination of lefties who are tough outs. 

Not to mention, the Mets need bullpen arms that can give them multi-inning appearances. Suter recorded more than three outs in 23 of his 57 appearances last season and does have 41 starts in his career. While Suter has primarily worked as a reliever for the past six years, he began his career in Milwaukee in the rotation. His flexibility to go multiple in games gives the Mets more options in an otherwise thin bullpen.

Rumors have swirled that Suter is on the Mets’ radar. David Stearns, former head honcho in Milwaukee, noted the Mets are looking for bullpen help. A reunion between the two makes sense and could help rebuild an otherwise unstable bullpen.

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