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The New York Mets have suffered another setback in the free agency arena.
Top reliever Robert Suarez has opted to join the Atlanta Braves, signing a lucrative three-year contract worth $45 million, as confirmed by Jon Heyman of The Post.
The agreement includes no deferred payments.
Suarez had been on the Mets’ radar, especially after their star closer Edwin Diaz made headlines by signing a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week.
In their bid to secure Suarez, the Mets proposed a $66 million offer over three years. However, as reported by Joel Sherman of The Post, the team indicated some flexibility in the negotiations, though Diaz ultimately chose to head west to Hollywood.
A day later, longtime Mets first baseman Pete Alonso agreed to a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles.
The Mets didn’t make Alonso an offer once they realized he was receiving bids outside their comfort zone.
Suarez, 34, was an All-Star each of the last two seasons as the Padres closer, pitching to a 2.87 ERA with 134 strikeouts over those two campaigns.
His 40 saves this year led the National League.
After the Mets signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract, the hope was he would pair with Diaz to form a shutdown duo in the final two innings.
Adding Suarez would’ve softened the blow of Diaz’s departure.
But now he joins a divisional rival, and the Mets must turn elsewhere to fortify their bullpen.