Pete Fairbanks’ 75 saves over the last three years rank 12th among all relievers. Mitchell Layton / Getty Images
The Miami Marlins took a significant step towards bolstering their bullpen, agreeing to a one-year, $13 million deal with right-hander Pete Fairbanks, league sources told The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Fairbanks brings closer experience to a young, promising pitching staff that will be without standout right-handed reliever Ronny Henriquez, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season.
Fairbanks joins the Marlins after seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he served as the team’s primary closer for the last three seasons. He has been one of baseball’s most reliable closers in that span, posting a 2.98 ERA since the start of 2023. He may not match the ninth-inning dominance of the likes of Edwin DÃaz or Jhoan Duran, but Fairbanks’ 75 saves over the last three years rank 12th among all relievers.
He thrives on a largely two-pitch mix, pairing a slider with his 97 mph fastball. Fairbanks has allowed just six homers off his fastball over the last five years, overpowering hitters with one of the highest average release points in baseball.
The 31-year-old became a free agent after the Rays declined Fairbanks’ $11 million club option for 2025. As other potential closers and high-leverage relievers signed this winter, Fairbanks lingered on the market. One aspect that may have scared off potential suitors is Fairbanks’ struggled with durability.
Before 2025, the righty hadn’t pitched more than 46 innings or appeared in over 50 games in a season. From 2021 through 2024, he had seven stints on the injured list. However, Fairbanks is coming off a career-high workload, posting a 2.83 ERA in 60 1/3 innings and 61 appearances for the Rays this past season and staying off the injured list all year.