The Athletics acquired former Braves left-hander Jose Suarez from the Mariners on Thursday after Seattle designated the veteran pitcher for assignment earlier this week, the Athletics announced Thursday.
Suarez made only one appearance in a Seattle uniform, surrendering a run on two hits across two innings before the Mariners cut him loose to clear space for the return of right-hander Bryce Miller from the 15-day injured list. Because Suarez is out of minor league options, the 27-year-old will immediately join the Athletics’ major league roster, giving Oakland another experienced arm as the AL West race tightens entering mid-May.
The Athletics sent cash considerations to Seattle to complete the deal, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors‘ Steve Adams on Thursday morning. In a corresponding move, Oakland designated outfielder Junior Perez for assignment to free up the roster spot. The Mariners had claimed Suarez off waivers from Atlanta on May 3, only to shed him 11 days later after giving him just one outing.
Suarez Joins Athletics Amid Tight AL West Race
Suarez, a Venezuelan southpaw, opened 2026 with Atlanta before the Braves designated him earlier this month. Through 18 1/3 innings split between the two clubs, he carries a 6.38 ERA. But his strikeout numbers provide a bit more cause for optimism. His 26.7 percent strikeout rate and 13 percent swinging-strike rate both represent career bests, surpassing his marks of 20.9 percent and 11.7 percent, respectively, according to an MLB Trade Rumors report. Oakland sees a pitcher whose swing-and-miss ability remains intact despite the surface numbers.
His problem, on the other hand, is command. Suarez has walked 15.6 percent of opposing batters, nearly six points above his career rate of 9.6 percent, while uncorking two wild pitches and hitting a batter. Control is the flaw that has bounced him from organization to organization this spring, and the A’s are betting they can help him locate the strike zone more consistently working out of the bullpen.
Suarez’s Career Path to Athletics’ Roster
The Los Angeles Angels signed Suarez as an international free agent out of Naguanagua, Venezuela, in July 2014 for a $300,000 bonus, according to Baseball Prospectus. A 2018 scouting report from BP evaluator Wilson Karaman projected him as a mid-rotation candidate, grading both his fastball and changeup at 60 on the 20-80 scale and praising his ability to repeat his delivery with above-average command and control. He made his major league debut on June 2, 2019, and appeared to fulfill early projections. In 2021 and 2022 Suarez posted a combined 3.86 ERA across 207 1/3 innings as a starter in Anaheim.
A shoulder strain in 2023 erased the left-hander’s momentum. He posted an 8.29 ERA in 33 2/3 innings that year, then managed a 6.02 ERA across 52 1/3 frames in 2024. A brief Atlanta stint last season produced a promising 1.86 ERA over 19.1 innings.
Suarez carries a $900,000 salary in 2026, just north of the major league minimum, per Spotrac. He becomes a free agent after 2028. With Oakland’s rotation currently featuring Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Aaron Civale, Jacob Lopez and J.T. Ginn, and Lopez struggling badly in his outings this year, A’s manager Mark Kotsay will likely deploy Suarez in a bullpen depth role. The Athletics lead the AL West at 22-20, just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Texas Rangers and 2 games ahead of Seattle.
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