It was a few weeks ago, I was watching a baseball game. In the late innings, a reliever gave up a home run and the game was tied. Suddenly, in a chat group, a friend indicated that the team shouldn’t sign him for a long-term deal.
After watching the game, I was thinking about what my friend said. And I was just wondering if agreeing to a long-term deal with a reliever is a good idea. To solve my doubts, I decided to check some key signings among relievers.
To make things clear, I decided to review some key signings among relievers who agreed to a 3+ year deal after the 2021 season.
In November 2021, Kendall Graveman signed a 3-year deal with the White Sox. In 2022 and 2023, Graveman threw 109 innings for the White Sox, posting a 3.30 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He got 14 saves in the White Sox uniform. In July 2023, Graveman was traded to the Astros. Additionally, in December 2021, the Angels and Raisel Iglesias agreed to a 4-year deal. After signing the deal, Iglesias tossed 35.2 innings for the Angels with 16 saves, 4.04 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He was traded to the Braves in August 2022.
In addition, after the 2022 season, several relievers inked a contract with at least 3 years. In November, the Mets agreed to a 5-year deal with Edwin Diaz. Meanwhile, the Astros and Rafael Montero agreed to a 3-year deal. The Padres signed Robert Suarez on a 5-year deal and they signed Nick Martinez on a 3-year deal. Also, the Giants and Taylor Rogers on a 3-year deal. Looking at those contracts, Diaz didn’t pitch in 2023 due to an injury. But he got 20 saves in 2024. This season, he now has 23 saves with a 1.41 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Rafael Montero finished the 2023 season with an ERA over 5 and last season, his ERA was 4.70 across 38.1 innings. This season, he only threw 4 innings for the Astros and was traded to the Braves. And for the Padres, Roberts Suarez tossed 27.2 innings in 2023 with a 4.23 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. Last season, Suarez got 36 saves with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. So far this season, he has recorded 32 saves. Nick Martinez made 9 starts and 54 relief appearances for the Padres in 2023. He owned a 3.43 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP over 110.1 innings. But the Padres declined his club option and became a free agent. Taylor Rogers tossed 111.2 innings for the Giants in 2023 and 2024, posting a 3.06 ERA with 2 saves. He was traded to the Reds in January 2025.
Moreover, after the 2023 season, Joe Jimenez signed a 3-year deal with the Braves and the Braves signed Reynaldo Lopez on a 3-year deal. In December 2023, Yuki Matsui and the Padres agreed to a 5-year deal. In January 2024, there were several key signings among free agent relievers. Jordan Hicks and the Giants agreed to a 4-year deal. The Astros signed Josh Hader on a 5-year deal. Additionally, the Angels and Robert Stephenson agreed to a 3-year deal. In February 2024, the Padres signed Wandy Peralta on a 4-year deal and the Blue Jays signed Yariel Rodriguez on a 5-year deal. Looking at those signings, Jimenez tossed 68.2 innings for the Braves with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP last season. But he’s on the IL now and hasn’t pitched any games in 2025. Lopez has become a starter for the Braves. He tossed 135.2 innings for the Braves last season, posting a 1.99 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. However, because of an injury, he only threw 5 innings this season. Matsui made 64 relief appearances for the Padres in 2024, posting a 3.73 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 62.2 innings. So far this season, he now has an ERA over 5 across 43 innings. Jordan Hicks made 20 starts and 9 relief appearances for the Giants in 2024, posting a 4.10 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP over 109.2 innings. In 2025, he tossed 48.2 innings for the Giants with an ERA over 6. He was traded to the Red Sox in mid-June. Josh Hader got 34 saves in 2024, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over 71 innings. So far this season, Hader has 28 saves with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP in 52.2 innings. Robert Stephenson didn’t pitch in 2024 due to injuries. He only threw 1 inning thus far in 2025 and he’s on the IL now. Furthermore, Wandy Peralta threw 38.1 innings for the Padres in 2024, posting a 3.99 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. So far this season, he owns a 3.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 54.1 innings. Yariel Rodriguez made 21 starts for the Blue Jays in 2024, posting a 4.47 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 86.2 innings. In 2025, he made 1 start and 47 relief appearances. Thus far this season, he has a 3.09 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 55.1 innings.
Finally, let’s take a look at some key RP signings before the start of the 2025 season. Clay Holmes and the Mets agreed to a 3-year deal in December 2024. Holmes now has a 3.46 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 122.1 innings after making 23 starts. Furthermore, in January 2025, Jeff Hoffman signed a 3-year deal with the Blue Jays. The Dodgers and Tanner Scott agreed to a 4-year deal. Hoffman now has 26 saves, but his ERA is over 4. Tanner Scott has 19 saves so far this season, posting a 4.14 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Unfortunately, he’s on the IL now.
Looking back at those deals, for those teams which agreed to a 3+ year deal with a reliever, it’s hard to tell that those decisions are great. Josh Hader has pitched well consistently. Robert Suarez has pitched well over these 2 seasons. The other pitchers, well, some of them are bothered by injuries or their performances haven’t been so consistent. Well, to agree to a long-term deal with a reliever, there are certainly many factors to consider.
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