The MLB free agent class for relief pitchers got stronger with longtime Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks joining the group after the team declined to pick up his 2026 option worth $11 million.
The right-hander is coming off another solid season as he went 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.04 WHIP and 27 saves in 60.1 innings pitched across 61 appearances.
Fairbanks is part of a talented class of relievers that includes Edwin Díaz, Robert Suárez, Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Helsley, Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, among others.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be among the teams expected to pursue Fairbanks in free agency:
But even in a free-agent market that includes closers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams and Robert Suárez, Fairbanks should attract considerable interest, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among his expected suitors.
The Dodgers are said to be interested in adding a high-leverage right-handed relief pitcher, and Fairbanks would certainly fit the bill.
Since 2020, Fairbanks ranks 15th in FIP (2.95), 16th in WAR (5.5) and saves (88), 17th in strikeouts per nine (11.2) and 19th in ERA (2.90) among relief pitchers with at least 200 innings.
L.A. has also been connected to Devin Williams, who they nearly acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason before he was sent to the New York Yankees.
Dodgers’ interest in Pete Fairbanks at trade deadline
Although the Rays ultimately kept Fairbanks at the MLB trade deadline this year, the Dodgers reportedly had interest in acquiring him.
Fairbanks finished his Rays career with 90 saves, which rank third in franchise history behind only Roberto Hernandez (101) and Alex Colomé (95).
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