photo: Andrew Suarez (Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports)
In the market for left-handed pitching reinforcements, the St. Louis Cardinals again look overseas for help. Andrew Suarez is a former Major Leaguer who pitched overseas the past two seasons with mixed results. How might the 30-year-old fit in?
St. Louis Cardinals announcement
We have signed LHP Andrew Suárez to a minor league contract for 2023 with a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
Suárez, 30, pitched in 56 games with San Francisco from 2018-20 and was named a KBO (Korea) All-Star in 2021. He has been assigned uniform no. 31. pic.twitter.com/OokEPsYjwG
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 27, 2023
Brian Walton’s take
This signing does not preclude the Cardinals from getting a more proven lefty as Suarez comes in on a minor league contract. Expectations should be tempered as the Miami, FL native has a career MLB record of 7-15 and 4.66 ERA over parts of three seasons with the San Francisco Giants, followed by one good and one not-so-good year overseas.
As a rookie Giant in 2018, Suarez made 29 starts, posting a 4.49 ERA. From there, he moved to the pen in 2019 and digressed to a 5.79 ERA. Through that season and 2020, Suarez spent less and less time in the bigs. In 2020, he was sent down to the Giants’ alternate camp five times.
Suarez’ career MLB splits indicate a solid results against left-handed hitters (.566 OPS), but right-handed batters teed off against him (.886 OPS). In January 2021, his rights were sold to the KBO’s LG Twins.
San Francisco’s second-round draft pick in 2015 from the University of Miami took his career to Korea and fit in quickly. In 2021, Suarez went 10-2 with a 2.18 ERA as a starter for the LG Twins. As noted by the Cardinals, he was a KBO All-Star, but despite the fine season, he did not return for 2022.
Last season, Suarez moved to Japan but did not repeat his KBO success. He pitched in six games for Yakult of the NPB, but his 6.23 ERA for the Swallows is likely why he spent a majority of 2022 in Japan’s minor leagues. At the lower level, Suarez appeared in 21 games, logging a 3.25 ERA. Overall in 2022, he averaged under four innings per outing.
Where might Suarez fit?
Suarez will join four other lefties with MLB experience in St. Louis’ spring camp, likely competing for two bullpen spots. They are Zack Thompson, Genesis Cabrera, JoJo Romero and Packy Naughton, all of whom are on the 40-man roster.
Two other left-handers have been starters but do not seem to have a place in the St. Louis rotation. They are Matthew Liberatore and Connor Thomas. Lefty starter Steven Matz could also end up in the pen, depending on how the spring progresses.
Suarez becomes the 24th non-roster invitee to St. Louis’ 2023 spring camp and the 64th player overall (including the full 40-man roster). If he doesn’t make the big-league team, Suarez will likely serve as a depth lefty with Triple-A Memphis.
Here on the Roster Matrix, Suarez has been placed on Memphis’ roster.
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