After being outrighted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wander Suero chose to become a free agent. This opens up a spot on the team’s current 40-man roster and signals the start of the player trade deadline following yet another National League Division Series loss.
The veteran right-hander had the option to choose free agency because he had been designated for assignment earlier in the season.
He pitched in parts of three seasons with the Washington Nationals from 2018–2021 and a full season in the Los Angeles Angels’ Minor League system in 2022 before signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in January of last year.
This season, Suero pitched in 47 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, recording a 3.26 ERA over 49.2 innings, and performed a similar role for the Dodgers. He was called up several times and added to the Major League roster twice as a result of his outstanding performance in the Pacific Coast League.
He had not pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for two seasons, and in his five outings, he gave up seven runs in eight innings. In his brief appearance, the large reliever struck out nine batters while facing the Washington Nationals on September 10.
Unfortunately, Suero was sidelined for the remainder of the game due to lower back discomfort.
The 32-year-old was assigned to a rehab facility in Oklahoma City for the balance of the year. He became one of the Dodgers’ disabled list substitutes, forcing their inexperienced arms to shoulder a large portion of the workload, including bulk assignments.
What does Wander Suero do next?
Given the demand for pitchers around the league going into the upcoming season, the five-year MLB veteran will almost certainly receive another chance with a club.
The best-case scenario for him would be a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, however his prospects of landing a Major League contract may be limited. Suero’s 2023 performance at both levels had some positive aspects, but he’ll need to figure out a method to strike out more batters while limiting walks.