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This Date In Transaction History: Rays Acquire Pete Fairbanks

By Anthony Franco | July 13, 2023 at 9:12pm CDT

Just under three weeks from the trade deadline, it’s still a little early for clubs to make moves of consequence. July is trade season but the majority of key acquisitions take place in the final week or so.

On this date four years ago, the Rays and Rangers lined up a deal that was more an interesting swap of young players than a pivotal deadline move. It was a one-for-one that sent reliever Pete Fairbanks to Tampa Bay and second base prospect Nick Solak to Arlington.

Fairbanks had some MLB experience, but neither player was an established big leaguer at the time of the trade. The right-hander had pitched in eight games for Texas. He averaged over 97 MPH on his heater but had allowed 10 runs in 8 2/3 frames. Solak hadn’t yet gotten to the majors; he was hitting .266/.353/.485 with 17 homers in Triple-A at the time of the deal.

Despite being the player without MLB experience, Solak was probably the more well-known of the two at the time. He’d been a 2nd-round selection of the Yankees a few years before. Solak was already involved in one notable trade, going to Tampa Bay in the 2018 three-team deal that sent Brandon Drury from Arizona to the Bronx.

Prospect evaluators consistently raised questions about Solak’s defensive acumen at second base. There was less trepidation about his offensive upside, though. He’d been an accomplished minor league hitter and was on the doorstep of the majors. Fairbanks had high-octane stuff but spotty control and had twice undergone Tommy John surgery as a minor leaguer, a big reason he was still unestablished by his age-25 campaign.

The initial returns looked promising for Texas. Solak debuted a month later and hit .292/.393/.491 over his first 33 MLB contests. He’d get the Opening Day nod in left field the next season. Fairbanks pitched 13 times for the Rays, allowing 10 runs across 12 1/3 frames.

Beginning in 2020, the deal swung definitively in Tampa Bay’s favor. Fairbanks was excellent in the shortened season, working to a 2.70 ERA while fanning a third of opponents in 27 regular season outings. He pitched nine times during the Rays’ run to the pennant, securing three saves and holds apiece in the playoffs. Fairbanks logged a career-high 42 2/3 innings the next year, working to a 3.59 ERA with 14 holds and a 29.7% strikeout rate.

Solak, on the other hand, never built off that strong debut. He hit .246/.317/.354 in a little more than 800 MLB plate appearances from 2020-22. Concerns about his defense were founded and pushed him more frequently to left field. Texas parted with him at the start of last offseason, trading him to the Reds for cash. Solak has consistently hit well in the upper minors but has bounced around via waivers and small trades since the Rangers moved on. He’s currently in Triple-A with the Tigers.

Fairbanks’ durability concerns have presented themselves over the past two years. He lost the first half of last season to a lat strain. He’s battled Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition that can lead to a cold numbness in the fingers, on a couple occasions. Hip inflammation cost him a few weeks earlier this year.

Still, the Rays have to be pleased with the work they’ve gotten out of Fairbanks. He’s one of their top relievers, owner of a 2.78 ERA in 123 regular season innings since the trade. He has allowed only six runs in 15 postseason frames over three seasons. The Rays signed him to a three-year deal in January, guaranteeing him $12MM to buy out his final three arbitration years and secure a 2026 club option.

No one would argue the Fairbanks trade was as impactful as acquiring the likes of Randy Arozarena or Isaac Paredes. It proved an adept pickup, though. Adding an effective late-inning arm for a young hitter who fell a bit short of expectations has paid off. The front office and coaching staff surely hope Fairbanks will continue to play a key role in postseason runs over the years to come.

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MLBTR Originals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers This Date In Transactions History Nick Solak Pete Fairbanks

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View Comments (13)
Post a Comment

13 Comments

  1. nitnontu

    2 years ago

    Fairbanks was great in “Robin Hood” and “The Thief of Bagdad”!!

    3
    Reply
    • Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth

      2 years ago

      I feel like this joke is under appreciated for MLBTR.

      Every old head mentions three stooges or some other dog dump “classic” as a joke. Like people under the age of 50 are supposed to get it. And those references are close to 80 years old.

      But, this dude references a 100 year old movie and all you geriatric turd gobblers are silent.

      THIS IS WHAT MLBTR WAS MADE FOR. THIS IS WHAT YOUR WIVES GET WET OVER.

      4
      Reply
      • DodgerBlue22

        2 years ago

        Please stfu and take your meds. Thanks <3

        4
        Reply
        • DodgerBlue22

          2 years ago

          Mommy paid for the Doctor to chop it off so you could be her lil girl forever <3 Don't you remember silly?

          Reply
        • DodgerBlue22

          2 years ago

          P.S. God is praying for you. Sodomite.

          Reply
        • In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani

          2 years ago

          Lol. What has this turned into?!?

          1
          Reply
        • Seamus O'Meara

          2 years ago

          LOLOL!!

          1
          Reply
      • Bart Harley Jarvis

        2 years ago

        @Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth,
        I’ve reference Homer’s Iliad, the Dead Sea Scrolls, et al. regularly in my posts, and never once have you reprimanded turd gobblers, geriatric or zygotic, for not paying homage. Some consistency, please.

        2
        Reply
        • Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth

          2 years ago

          @Bart Harley. Apologies. It’s possible I didn’t see them, but I promise I will be more vigilant in the future when it comes to getting you the appropriate level of recognition.

          I don’t mess with zygotic turd gobblers. The ZTGs don’t play around.

          2
          Reply
  2. Benklasner

    2 years ago

    I actually have a signed Douglas Fairbanks card! …. and I’m only 37.

    2
    Reply
  3. Buzz Killington

    2 years ago

    If Fairbanks was still with the rangers he’d be getting Waived and DFA right about now and the Rays would claim him and fix him up.

    Reply
  4. DCartrow

    2 years ago

    I invest all my earnings in Alaska because of their fair banks.
    Did Juneau that?

    2
    Reply
  5. nottinghamforest13

    2 years ago

    Dude is dog water in The Show 23.

    2
    Reply

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