Why does Albert Suárez keep re-signing with the Orioles? ‘I like it here.’

ST. LOUIS — The snip-snap nature of Albert Suárez’s season is almost hard to believe, but here it goes.

It began in November, when the right-hander elected free agency following the 2025 season. Since then, he has dealt with an up-and-down experience that highlights life as a depth pitcher in Major League Baseball.

It isn’t always so glamorous. Suárez knows that better than most.

When he re-signed with Baltimore on Thursday, inking a minor league deal to join the Triple-A Norfolk roster, it continued a yearlong trend. The Orioles have designated Suárez for assignment four times. Three times, he elected free agency, only to re-sign shortly after — a roster-rule workaround that will be explained later in this story.

For the time being, let’s lay out Suárez’s ride:

• Nov. 21: He elected free agency after the 2025 season.
• Dec. 17: He signed a minor league deal with Baltimore.
• April 1: The Orioles selected his contract, adding him to the major league roster.
• April 26: The Orioles designated Suárez for assignment.
• April 29: He elected free agency once he cleared waivers.
• April 30: Suárez signed a minor league deal.
• May 1: The Orioles selected his contract, adding him to the majors.
• May 2: The Orioles designated him for assignment.
• May 4: Suárez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, having accepted the assignment.
• May 19: The Orioles selected his contract for the majors.
• May 25: The Orioles designated him for assignment.
• May 28: He elected free agency.
• May 29: Suárez signed a major league contract with the Orioles.
• Aug. 21: The Orioles designated him for assignment.
• Aug. 24: Suárez elected free agency.
• Aug. 27: Suárez signed a new minor league contract with the Orioles.

Why is he doing this?

In June, after Suárez had been designated for assignment and promptly brought back for a third time, The Banner asked him just that. His reasoning, likely, hasn’t changed in the two months between then and now.

“I like it here,” Suárez said then. “For me, I know pretty much everybody here. And, for me to go out there and wait to see what options there are, I’d rather just come back here and keep playing, just to make sure I have the chance to come back to the major leagues.”

The Orioles have also improved Suárez’s contract over time. His minor league salary has increased from where it was when he signed in December, a source with knowledge of the deal said, and his latest contract includes certain benefits, such as an upward mobility clause that gives the player more control over his future.

An upward mobility clause allows a player to alert the team that he must be promoted to the majors by a certain date or offered to other teams. If no other team is interested, the player can remain with his current organization; it’s not an opt-out.

Through all of this, Suárez has maintained an admirable unflappability.

“I think it’s easier because I’ve been through a lot of things,” Suárez said, and he’s right. His career has taken him around the world — from the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants in 2016 and 2017 to Japan and Korea. He pitched in Venezuelan winter ball, returning to his home country, multiple times.

And since 2024, Suárez has been a reliable do-it-all pitcher for Baltimore. When injuries piled up in 2024, he appeared 32 times and started 24 games. He produced a 3.70 ERA in 133 2/3 innings that year.

Injuries held Suárez to only 11 2/3 major league innings last year, but in 2026 Suárez has been a useful long reliever. He has pitched 55 innings to the tune of a 3.93 ERA. Those are handy numbers, and they aren’t impacted by the uncertainty of four DFAs.

“I don’t think about it too much. Whatever happens happens, and I adjust,” Suárez said. “Once you understand the things you can control, it’s easier. I don’t think about it too much. I know this is a business and it’s movement always. If it happens to be me, I’m OK with it, and I just have to be prepared.”

Part of why Suárez elects free agency then re-signs with the organization anyway is to bypass roster rules. If a pitcher is optioned or outrighted to the minors, there is a 15-day buffer period before the Orioles can recall him to the majors (unless he is replacing an injured player).

By signing a new deal instead, Suárez and the Orioles ensure he can return before 15 days pass, if required. It’s a clever circumvention to keep a capable arm available. And the Orioles have made it clear to Suárez before that they value him, even if he’s sometimes the odd man out.

In June, Suárez said the Orioles told him that if he cleared waivers, “we want you back.” He cleared waivers then, and he returned. The same happened this week; Suárez cleared waivers, and now he’s back in the organization.

“And I like to be here, so, for me, it’s a simple decision to come back,” Suárez said two months ago. The same appears to be true now.