Another notable reliever came off the board on Christmas Eve. Pete Fairbanks, the Rays’ primary closer over the last three seasons, reportedly agreed to sign with the Marlins on a one-year deal for 2026. The move gives the Marlins a power right-handed reliever who can fill out a bullpen that was rather good for Miami last season, albeit one who will be missing a key piece come 2026.

A Look at Fairbanks

Ex-Tampa Bay reliever Pete Fairbanks was one of baseball’s best shutdown relievers over the past three seasons. Once a formidable setup man in a deep Rays bullpen over the first half of the early 2020s, Fairbanks took over the primary stopper/closer role in 2023 and ran with it. The 32-year-old notched at least 20 saves in each of the last three seasons.

This past year, Fairbanks struck out 59 over 60.1 IP for the Rays, along with a 2.83 ERA. He was also among baseball’s best pitchers in terms of limiting well-hit contact (4.8% Barrel%).

Fairbanks ranked tied with David Bednar for the 13th-most saves in the Majors last season. The right-hander also ranked 53rd among relievers in walk rate (7.4%) and 54th in wOBA (.269).0

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a well-known policy of wanting pitchers to throw strikes, and Fairbanks fit that bill to a tee. Fairbanks didn’t have a high Chase% rate in any of his years with the Rays. However, his stuff was good enough to induce a lot of weak contact and whiffs inside the zone.

Fairbanks’ primary weapon is a hard, upper-90s fastball with cut that proved to be a dizzying pitch over the years.

However, it is important to note that hitters have been able to hit that pitch more since the 2022 campaign.

YearFour-Seam Whiff%202239%202329.6%202418.5%202521.9%

Fairbanks’ fastball velocity has remained high over the years, albeit not as high as it was. Just three years ago, in 2022, Fairbanks averaged 99 MPH on the fastball. This past season, it was 97.3%.

That doesn’t mean Fairbanks can’t get outs without premium velocity. He has, just without the big swing-and-miss numbers that he recorded over the early years of his MLB career.

Aside from the four-seamer, Fairbanks also works with a slider that sat in the mid-80s on average this past year. Much like the fastball, Fairbanks will throw that pitch in the zone and dare opposing hitters to get at it. Additionally, Fairbanks will throw an occasional changeup, and in 2025, began to experiment with a cutter.

Fairbanks’ delivery included short arm action and an over-the-top arm slot, the latter of which is not seen much by opposing hitters.

Per MLB.com, the Marlins will sign Pete Fairbanks to a one-year deal worth $13MM.

Analysis

Fairbanks made out pretty well with this one-year deal.

The Rays had a $7MM option that the team declined on him back in November. While it might seem like an odd decision to do that, it is worth noting that between Hunter Bigge, Edwin Uceta, and newcomer Steven Wilson, the Rays have good depth as far as right-handed relievers are concerned.

For Fairbanks, he’ll make an additional $6MM, on top of that $1MM buyout he received on that aforementioned team option.

As for the Marlins, the president of baseball ops, Peter Bendi,x gets an arm that he’s familiar with from his days working with the Rays. Plus, Fairbanks has a clear road to being the main stopper/closer for the Marlins in 2026. Before the signing, the Marlins’ options for that role included Anthony Bender and 2025 saves leader Calvin Faucher.

However, Ronny Henriquez, who pitched very well for Miami last season, won’t be an option.

Henriquez, who notched seven saves for the Marlins last season, underwent UCL reconstruction surgery per the team, meaning that he won’t be available for the 2026 campaign.

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