The Boston Red Sox haven’t been successful in the free agent market this winter, but the first MLB signing for the club this offseason will provide some significant insurance to their rotation.

Per Jon Heyman at the New York Post, the Red Sox and southpaw starter Ranger Suarez have agreed to a five-year, $130 million contract that includes no deferrals and no opt-outs. Suarez was one of the remaining top free agent starters this offseason.

The Venezuelan left-hander has spent the past eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, the same organization that signed him as an international free agent back in 2012. He made his big league debut in 2018, appearing in four games, and then made more appearances out of the bullpen over the next three seasons until becoming a full-time rotation member in 2022, where he has remained.

Across 762 innings, Suarez has amassed a 3.38 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and a 1.270 WHIP, which includes 119 starts through 187 total outings. Suarez commands the strike zone well, pitching to a 2.8 BB/9 throughout his career and is a groundball specialist, sitting at a 51.6% mark since his debut. He produces a ton of weak contact, ranking in the 95th percentile and 98th percentile in average exit velocity (86.5%) and hard-hit percentage (31.1%), respectively. This past season was statistically one of his best seasons, where he earned a 4.7 bWAR with a 3.20 ERA and a 3.21 FIP across 26 starts and 157 1/3 innings – a career high.

The 30-year-old works with six total pitches, using his sinker the most (28.5%) while mixing in his changeup, cutter, curveball, four-seam, and slider. All but his four-seamer were positive pitches, with his curveball and changeup leading the way in pitching run value at +7 and ++6, respectively.

With this contract, Suarez inks a strong five-year deal that earns him a $26 million AAV. He will join a strong Red Sox rotation that is led by fellow left-hander Garrett Crochet and includes starting candidates in RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Brayan Bello, RHP Johan Oviedo, RHP Kutter Crawford, LHP Patrick Sandoval, LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Connelly Early, RHP Tanner Houck, and LHP Payton Tolle.

For signing Suarez, the Red Sox will forfeit a draft pick as compensation, and the Phillies will gain an additional pick following the fourth round in 2026.

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