The list of suitors for free agent reliever Pete Fairbanks continues to grow. Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that the White Sox are interested in the veteran right-hander. Chicago joins the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Dodgers as teams connected to Fairbanks.
Tampa Bay declined its $11MM option on Fairbanks back in November. The 31-year-old piled up 75 saves over the past three seasons with the club. Fairbanks posted a strong 2.83 ERA over 61 appearances in 2025, setting a career high in innings by 15 frames. The price tag seemed reasonable for Fairbanks given his recent production, though it ended up being too much for the cost-conscious Rays.
Fairbanks cruised through this past season without any health issues for the first time since the shortened 2020 campaign. Over the previous four years, he had missed time with rotator cuff, shoulder, lat, forearm, and hip injuries. Fairbanks also dealt with a nerve-related issue in 2024. After his fastball sat at 99 mph in 2023, it’s been in the 97 mph range over the past two years.
Even with the frequent IL stints, Fairbanks was a valuable member of Tampa Bay’s bullpen during his tenure. He posted a 3.19 ERA over 265 1/3 innings with the club. Fairbanks was virtually unhittable for stretches, including a two-year run from 2022 to 2023 where opponents hit .155 and .163 against him, respectively. Sending Nick Solak to Texas straight up for Fairbanks before the reliever found his footing in the big leagues certainly paid off for Tampa Bay.
The White Sox bullpen had the fifth-worst SIERA and the third-worst xFIP last season. The closer role was a moving target, with nine different relievers recording a save. Jordan Leasure led the way with seven saves and would likely be Chicago’s closer if the season started today, though he would likely be supplanted by Fairbanks or any other notable free agent acquisition. No White Sox reliever has recorded double-digit saves since 2022 (Liam Hendriks with 37).
Chicago shelled out $24MM for Kendall Graveman and $17MM for Joe Kelly ahead of the 2022 season. Since then, the club has been hesitant to spend on relievers (or any other position). The most expensive bullpen addition over the past three seasons was John Brebbia on a one-year, $5.5MM deal in 2024. The White Sox’s only reliever signing last offseason was Bryse Wilson, who got a one-year, $1.05MM pact.
Photo courtesy of Rafael Suanes, Imagn Images
I’m interested in Bella Ramsey doesn’t mean I’ll get them
Her
lol you probably take a stand and still call it the DL too. Very brave.
Still biologically a female.
You’re right Rick, most people lost their GD mind
Rick is clearly having persistent thoughts about things other than baseball.
Stevie how do you know she/her/they/them isn’t a female? Did you check? Personally she/her/they/them sounds like a head case. Someone that supports the LGBTQIA+ community probably shouldn’t support a group of people that kills the 1st group.
It’s definitely true. Biology says otherwise.
Lol! Looks like i upset the “trust the science crowd” oh well.
Sure Stevie. You know what her skeleton is gonna say? Female.
Why would a binary machine be interested in a non-binary person? 🤔
Do I know Bella Ramsey? Should I know Bella Ramsey? Do I want to know Bella Ramsey?
You might be old
We’re not talking about Bella Legosi here?
Yeah but why?
Because the Sox are yearning to reach mediocrity in the next year or two.
Grant Taylor deserves a shot at closer role. Signing Fairbanks only makes sense if he does well for them and they can use as a trade chip at deadline for a contender, to pick up some more prospects.
He’s more SP long term (not guaranteed) but we can’t deny he has electric stuff nevertheless.
The White Sox seem intent on stretching out Grant Taylor in 2026 in order to prepare him for a potential rotation role in 2027. Look for him to frequently pitch multiple innings in the bullpen along with occasional stints as a late inning option.
Taylor has a big time arm and stuff but missed his final season at LSU in 2023 due to TJ surgery. He also missed out on finishing his final season at LSU as Paul Skenes rotation mate. Skenes was the #1 overall pick in the 2023 Draft by the Pirates and Taylor was expected to follow him later in the round. His surgery dropped him down to the second round where the White Sox were more than happy to select him. Taylor and Skenes remain friends with the latter also endorsing his college teammate as a future MLB ace.
Yeh Grant following the path the Sox had taken with other high upside arms: Sale and Crochet, both initially starting as multi inning relievers
Taylor should spend another season in high leverage situations out of the bullpen, I agree, but Leasure should be the closer barring a disasterous spring.
Sox could have a decent top 5 with Leasure / Vasil / Taylor / Eisert / Gonzalez
I see at least two roster spots open for Rule 5 selections — we hit it out of the park last season. Add a pair of pitchers in the Rule 5 draft. To get Grant Kipp off the Cubs and have him become the next Shane Smith in our rotation, that would be a coup.
We could take Felix Arronde off the Royals too and stash him in the bullpen all season.
Can we have an article on which teams aren’t interested in Fairbanks? I think that might be less work for you guys.
It’s terrible for a young team to lose games in the late innings this would be a great move for the White Sox!!
Does this mean he gets a Guaranteed Rate?
Or a US Cellular
This is most likely nonsense. 1) they are bleeding fans to the point that they barely get any coverage in local media. That makes them desperate for any positive publicity. 2) Reinsdoof is too cheap and has a history of conveniently coming up just short of signing anyone with significant talent. 3) anyone with a pulse would have zero interest in playing for this team
Well put, Captain. The only thing I would say differently is, the local media has always favored the north side whether the Sox had the better team or not. Bill Veeck kept a record of how much press the north side got over the Sox and it was more than twice as much.
I heard they liked Kyle Tucker also.
That would be a pipe dream
Pete Fairbanks is not interested in the White Sox.
Sox bullpen was ranked near or below average overall.
@Zeus Source?
A fair appraisal, but what he decides will ultimately be up to him won’t it? Sometimes dollar signs speak louder than common sense can. Also, even though Reinsdork is a Pharoah that wants to be buried in a sarcophagus with his money, signing a stopper on the wrong side of 30 probably won’t demand a whole lot considering the volatility of relievers.
The Sox, specifically in high leverage situations were absolutely terrible so Pete Fairbanks wouldn’t be a bad option for high leverage situations.
Zeus’ butt is the source
In other news, Pete Fairbanks has shown zero interest in the White Sox
Jerry Reinsdorf is expected to meet with Pete Fairbanks at a McDonald’s in Chicago (Fairbanks will pay for his own airfare, lodging and meal) in order to discuss what kind of contract he might get from the white sox
An AL East team should be all over him. He’s got the experience and pitched well in the division. Actually have him to NYY.
If the Sox are trying to low ball his salary, forget it, Fairbanks will sign elsewhere.