The Los Angeles Dodgers have found some consistency in their bullpen after a rough stretch, and it’s once again been a solid area for the team.
That turnaround has coincided with Tanner Scott and Anthony Banda sorting through their struggles, along with the returns of Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech from the injured list.
They also still have two other high-leverage arms on the shelf in Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol, and both are expected to return this season.
But a team can never have too much bullpen help, and with roughly one month to go until the MLB trade deadline on July 31, the Dodgers have interest in Pete Fairbanks or a similarly established relief pitcher, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
The Dodgers are always looking for bullpen help and would like another late-inning reliever like Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.
Fairbanks is currently the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays and has been a high-leverage reliever for much of his career. The right-hander faced the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series, where he allowed three runs in four innings.
Despite his poor showing against the Dodgers, Fairbanks has allowed just six runs in 15 career postseason innings while striking out 19 hitters.
Over his career in the regular season, the 31-year-old has tossed 237 innings with a 3.19 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 30.2% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate.
This year, Fairbanks has seen his strikeout numbers drop with a 20.1% strikeout rate, but he still holds a 2.53 ERA and 2.71 FIP in 32 innings without allowing a home run.
Would the Rays trade Pete Fairbanks?
The Rays currently hold a 2.5-game lead in the American League Wild Card race and sit just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL East.
Because of their status as contenders, it makes them unlikely to be sellers at the deadline.
Fairbanks is also on a team-friendly contract, counting for just $4.15 million against the luxury tax threshold with just $3.8 million of real money being paid to him this season.
The Rays additionally hold a $7 million team option on Fairbanks for 2026, which is still a bargain rate for a high-leverage arm.
Given the Rays’ positioning and Fairbanks’ contract, it makes them unlikely to trade the right-hander. But the Dodgers and Rays have lined up on deals often under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, so a trade between the two clubs can’t fully be ruled out.
Given how the Rays like to operate, if they can get younger in a deal while staying competitive, that’s something that would interest them. Similar to their trade with the Dodgers involving Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Pepiot.
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