Athletics Acquire 8-Year Veteran Pitcher From Mariners
Because Suarez is out of minor league options, he joins Oakland's big league roster immediately rather than being sent to Triple-A Las Vegas.
The deal is the latest transaction in what has been a remarkably active stretch of organizational shuffling for Suarez, who has now been with three teams in less than two months.
He opened 2026 with the Atlanta Braves before being designated for assignment on May 1.
The Mariners claimed him off waivers on May 3, gave him one appearance of two innings with one run allowed, then turned around and designated him themselves.
Oakland sent cash to Seattle and gets a veteran left-hander who goes directly into manager Mark Kotsay's bullpen.
The Split Results That Tell Two Different Stories
Suarez's 2026 numbers look terrible on the surface.
He carries a 6.38 ERA across 18.1 innings between the Braves and Mariners, has a .333 opponents batting average, and has issued 14 walks while allowing opponents to post an .846 OPS.
The underlying contact metrics tell a more interesting story. His 26.7 percent strikeout rate is a career best, surpassing his previous marks of 20.9 percent. His 13 percent swinging-strike rate is also similarly a career high.
Roster move:
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) May 14, 2026
The Mariners have traded LHP José Suarez to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations.
The command has been the problem in 2026, not the stuff, which is a more fixable issue than declining velocity or poor contact management.
The 28-year-old Venezuelan southpaw spent six seasons with the Angels from 2019 through 2024, working as both a starter and reliever, before joining the Braves last season.
The Athletics have acquired left-handed pitcher José Suarez from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations and designated outfielder Junior Perez for assignment.
— A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) May 14, 2026
He had some productive campaigns with Los Angeles in 2021 and 2022 before a shoulder strain in 2023 disrupted the trajectory of his career.
His career line is 22 wins, 30 losses, a 5.34 ERA, and 115 appearances across 63 starts.
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