The relief market has been the most active element of free agency so far, with Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias and Phil Maton among the most prominent names off the board thus far. Former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has seen his name pop up frequently early on as well, drawing connections to the Marlins, Blue Jays and Dodgers. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi adds the Tigers to the list of clubs with interest in Fairbanks.
Tampa Bay’s decision to decline an $11MM option on Fairbanks was a moderate surprise. He’d just wrapped up his healthiest season and has been a quality ’pen arm for Rays skipper Kevin Cash dating back to 2020. Since that shortened season, the 31-year-old Fairbanks (32 in two weeks) sports a collective 2.87 ERA, 88 saves, 30 holds, 30.2% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate. That includes a 2.83 ERA and career-high 27 saves this past season (in a career-high 60 1/3 innings).
That said, Fairbanks comes with his share of red flags. Beyond turning 32 this month, he’s seen his velocity, strikeout rate and swinging-strike rate all dip in recent seasons. He’s averaged 97.3 mph on his heater in each of the past two seasons, which is still well above average but noticeably down from the pitch’s peak average of 99 mph. Fairbanks set down nearly 35% of his opponents on strikes from 2020-23 but is at 24% over the past two years. He sat 15.1% with his swinging-strike rate from 2020-22 but is down to 11.3% in 2024-25 — roughly in line with the league average.
None of these trendlines suggest that Fairbanks is suddenly a bad reliever, but he’s not quite as dominant as he once was. He’s also missed considerable time with injury over the years. Since 2021, Fairbanks has been placed on the injured list six different times. That’s been due to a pair of lat strains, shoulder inflammation, forearm inflammation, a nerve issue and hip inflammation. This past season’s 60 1/3 innings weren’t just a career-high — they marked the first time Fairbanks has completed even 46 innings in a major league season.
For a budget-crunched club like the Rays, the $11MM price point was understandably steep. Still, many expected the team to trade Fairbanks before the option decision was due. The Rays clearly weren’t able to find a club willing to give up minor league talent and commit to an $11MM payday for Fairbanks on day one of the offseason. Tampa Bay could’ve picked up the option and tried to trade him down the line, but their early shopping of the right-hander already spelled out that they weren’t keen on paying him $11MM. Trying to trade him after picking up the option ran the risk of needing to pay down even more than the $1MM buyout Fairbanks received in order to acquire a middling return — not exactly appealing for the Rays.
Just because Fairbanks wasn’t traded doesn’t mean his eventual price point will come in under $11MM. A two-year contract remains plenty plausible, particularly if it’s at a slightly lower annual rate. Even on a two-year pact, it’s possible some clubs might now value him differently after seeing other targets come off the board and/or after freeing up payroll space with some of their own early dealings.
The Tigers are an obvious fit for Fairbanks — or for any late-inning reliever in general. Detroit saw Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero, Paul Sewald and Tommy Kahnle all reach free agency at season’s end. Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter all posted quality ERA marks, but Vest is the only one of that quartet who did so with a plus strikeout rate and while pitching consistently in high-leverage settings.
Detroit general manager Jeff Greenberg has already said the team will “certainly” be in the market for a bullpen arm or two. President of baseball operations Scott Harris has also publicly called out the relief corps as an area of focus. The Tigers are hoping to re-sign Finnegan, who dominated for them after coming over from the Nats at the July trade deadline, and they were reported to have interest in Williams before he agreed to a three-year, $51MM deal with the Mets last night. The Tigers are surely casting a wide net in their search for ’pen help, but there’s been enough early interest in Fairbanks that some have speculated he could sign in the relatively near future.
OMG Cashman go get Fairbanks Now!!!! Possibly bring back Weaver. Good Riddance Williams
I’d love to see the Tigers get both Finnegan and Fairbanks, but do have my hang-ups with that a bit…that would be these two and Vest for late inning situations, and I’d like to see one of them being a lefty here.
I get now why my question wasn’t picked up in the chat.
Holton would be a fine set up guy to work in with this trio. Hurter and Hanifee are there when you need to generate lots of ground balls through the middle innings.
True, I keep forgetting Holton in this because he looked a little shaky to me last year. But I still stick to my guns, my gripe is minor, but I do wish Finnegan or Fairbanks was a lefty, but I won’t be complaining if we start next year with Vest-Finnegan-Fairbanks as the closing trio…that’s a pretty good trio.
Baseball is an amazing thing. Imagine a decline where you are only doing 97 on the radar gun….it’s almost as if he’s lobbing it up there.
I still struggle (now 40) that 97 is now only above average velo. It feels like in my youth 91-92 was average Velo; and i remember watching Billy Wagner (during his short stint with the Phillies) and everyone cheering when he would hit 100 on the gun…. now it feels like half the bullpen guys can hit 100, and every club has a few guys who are consistently over 100 (even if the straight 100 is terrible- look at Rainey who last i looked was sitting 100-101 and was consistently getting rocked)
@James123 Look at Ryan Stanek, he is the worst 100mph pitcher that I’ve ever seen. Hes worse then Rainey
Agreed, it’s a bit bizarre, and I’m older than you, so I layer in the astonishment of 5 man rotations, bull-pen games, and averaging 5 IP a start. A “complete game” is like from the Dead Ball Era
Radar guns measure the pitch at a different point than guns used to. Today’s guns would give a higher reading on those pitchers of olde.
That’s an interesting point and I suspect it to be part of the increased average velo – along with far superior training techniques of today.
Back in the day, Nolan Ryan, early Frank Tanana, Tom Seaver, Vida Blue & Tom Seaver, among others, were all hitting high 90s, touching 100. J.R. Richard & Ryan were well over 100– and were starters.
@84LeFlore I disagree, these guys threw too many inning to be throwing that hard
Yep it was so rare to come by 100mph velo that the tigers took matt anderson as a 1st overall pick (1996 or 97 i think). Pretty disasterous choice, but triple digit heat was still somewhat rare when they called up verlander and joel zumaya in 2006.
@ I want Wasn’t Randy Smith the tigers GM who took Anderson? No matter who made that pick it did not work out at all. Had high hopes for Zumaya. He just couldn’t stay healthy.
I wonder what it feels like when a professional baseball team says they’re interested in you
“Do you like me? Check yes or no.”
If they’re interested then why wait? Jump in and sign him and Finnigan before someone else does.
i do not know why no one was interested. The Os brough back Kittleridge for 9m. If that is the market, then why did the Os sign Helsy vs. giving up a low minors guy for Fairbanks to come in and close.
The red flags on Fairbanks are overblown. I still think there is a top 10 closer there, and if you can keep it to a 1-2 year deal, that is fantastic. If another closer emerges from the bullpen, we know Fairbanks has been fine bouncing between the 7th, 8th and 9th innings- and does not have the closer ego some guys get.
Back off he’s a blue jay
Why did the rays cut him. Could’ve got something in a trade at least
It has to suck being a Rays fan. They can’t keep anyone for long. What a horrendous way to have to run a team. Management always has to be nervous thinking about all the payroll they have to shed every off-season hoping they can get it done.
Considering what helsely and dev just got they’re clearly jumped the gun cutting him at only a 10 mil salary and 9 mil difference
I’m sure they already planned this before the season ended. Year after year it’s the same thing. it isn’t talked about much but this constant turnover is one of the reasons they can’t build a reliable fan base.
I’m just saying I don’t get the rush
Finnegan and Fairbanks…go get them Harris!
I hope they do, too. That would solve their biggest need IMO. I doubt Diaz is under consideration because of $$.
Sometimes though I get the feeling Morosi includes the Tigers in these because it’s an obvious fit and he not-so-secretly wants the Tigers to do well. The way Sherman & Heyman always name the 2 NY teams.
I just don’t see Harris acquiring 2 closer priced relievers for the pen. I believe he will go after Fairbanks, as he is the more injury prone arm.
I don’t see Harris getting anyone of any importance, as normal.
I’m keeping the faith, but I have that same concern. His acquisitions to date have been less than earth-moving.
me either. WHAT are they ‘saving’ all their money for? The execs? Harris is definitely gun-shy.
Skubal, next year……