With the World Series wrapped up, the Tampa Bay Rays will have a decision to make on two key players on their roster: second baseman Brandon Lowe and relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks.
With the ink not even dry on the papers the new owners signed to take over the Rays, the first big decision will come on whether to pick up the option on these two long-time Rays. The Rays will have until November 6th to make their decision.
Lowe and Fairbanks are both in line for huge paydays if the Rays pick up the options on their contracts.
Lowe had his best season since 2021, hitting .256 with 31 homers and 83 RBI’s. Lowe’s 31 home runs were the most among second basemen in the major leagues, tied with the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm. Lowe also stayed healthy this season, playing in 134 games. The 31-year-old had a 20-game hitting streak this season and also made the All-Star team. Lowe will either make $11 million this season or be given a $500,000 buyout.
Fairbanks has been a solid reliever for the Rays, but struggled to hold leads at times this season. Fairbanks went 4-5 with a career-high 27 saves. He walked 18 batters and had 59 strikeouts. The 31-year-old is due $11 million should the Rays exercise the option or receive a $1 million buyout.
This past season, the Rays’ payroll was around $80 million, and new owner Patrick Zalupski noted in the opening press conference that “the economics of the club have not changed.” That would suggest that it is the same old business model when it comes to running the Rays, which involves not paying out vast sums of money for a player’s contract.
If the Rays were to re-sign Lowe and Fairbanks, they would be the second and third-highest-paid players on the team behind Yandy Diaz and his $12 million deal.
The Rays will need to decide what to do with pitcher Adrian Houser this offseason as well.
At his season-ending press conference, Rays President Erik Neander had this to say about their plans moving forward.
“I think we expect to be a competitive team next year. How do we improve ourselves? What kind of money is required? How do you need to allocate it? That will be a consideration as we get into the winter and find the right mix.”
“Pete and Brandon are two players who have meant a lot to our organization. We appreciate them both greatly. We’re going to go into this winter and just see how we can best configure this thing to win more baseball games next year.”
Both players want to return to the Rays.
Speaking to the media on the final day of the season, Lowe said, “Obviously, I hope they pick it up and I get to spend another year in Tampa. We love the area. We love the fans. We love the coaching staff and the players that are here. So, as much change that happens in our game, we’d like for that to be a constant.”
The Rays will also need to decide how much to pay Taylor Walls. Walls does not give you much offensively, but is a Gold Glove caliber shortstop defensively. Regardless of what the Rays decide, Walls will remain under the Rays’ control. The Rays can pick up his option for $2.45 million, or buy him out for $50,000 and then go to arbitration.
Author’s Prediction
- The Rays bring Walls back for $2.45 million.
- The Rays won’t bring back both Lowe and Fairbanks. Offense is where the Rays have struggled, while the bullpen seems to operate like a revolving door. Lowe will probably return, while they let Fairbanks go and move in a different direction for the closer role.