Jeffrey Springs and Peter Fairbanks Sign Extensions with Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays had a huge week to help keep their strong stable of pitchers in tact. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs and right-hander Peter Fairbanks will return in Rays’ uniforms in 2023 after taking extensions with the team.

Both players really shined in 2022 with exceptional years and their presence will be needed in 2023.

Jan. 25th: LHP Jeffrey Springs Signs to a 4-year, $31 Million Deal

Arguably one of the most standout players from this past season, Springs comes back to the Rays on a $31 million deal that includes a $15 million club option in 2027.

Springs came to the Rays from the Boston Red Sox in 2021. He was also with the Texas Rangers prior to 2020 for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Despite being 30-years-old during the 2022 season, Springs put up incredible numbers including a 2.46 ERA that was the second-lowest season ERA in team history only behind Blake Snell’s 1.89 ERA in 2018.

The 30-year-old left hander also finished with a 9-5 record and had 144 strikeouts in 135.1 innings pitched.

Springs started the season coming in and out of the Tampa Bay bullpen. However, towards the end of the year, he began to make starts in order to fill the holes in injuries of the Rays starting rotation.

The 30 year old’s arsenal is very simple yet has developed nicely since his first MLB appearance back in 2018. He is known for his high-speed fastballs and changeups. His changeup has averaged out at 81 mph.

His low-90s fastball matches with the off-speed pitches’ velocities, creating a difficult situation for hitters to line-up against.

This move is a bit strange due to Springs’ age getting ever so high. However, the Rays do feel that the starts he made late in the year earned him an opportunity to suit up again for the team.

Jan. 27: Rays Resign Peter Fairbanks to a 3-year, $12 million deal

The 29-year-old reliever resigned with Tampa Bay on Friday much to the delight of Rays’ fans everywhere. Fairbanks was limited in 2022 due to a torn lat muscle and did not appear in a game until July 17th.

However, he was very impressive in his limited 24 games with an ERA of 1.13, 38 strikeouts, and only 13 hits given up in 24 innings pitched.

The resigning fills depth needed in the bullpen and having one of the fastest fastballs from last season back in the rotation is huge for Tampa Bay. Fairbanks’ fastball averages out at 99 mph and he hits the 100s very consistently. He also can throw batters off with an occasional slider that clocks in at high 80s.

Rays’ general manager Peter Bendix on the signing: “Pete has really shown that he can be a dominant force in our bullpen, a dominant reliever that you want to use at the end of games… Pitching and defense, and especially our bullpen, has been a strength of ours, and [we] hope that it will stay that way and envision Pete being a really big part of that moving forward.”

Fairbanks also has a club option with Tampa Bay in 2026 worth $7 million guaranteed.

Future Resigns?

The Rays have options on the table for five remaining players. They can choose to resign fellow pitchers Ryan Thompson, Jason Adam, and Colin Poche, as well as first baseman Yandy Díaz and outfielder Harold Ramírez.