The Tampa Bay Rays have officially parted ways with closer Pete Fairbanks. The Rays declined to pick up the closer’s option for $11 million, instead of opting to give Fairbanks a $1 million buyout, making him a free agent. This was a strictly financial decision as the payroll is expected to stay around the $80 million mark to start the season.
Fairbanks was acquired by the Rays in 2019 in a trade with the Texas Rangers. He helped the Rays get to the postseason five times from 2019 to 2023. He leaves the Rays third all-time in saves, fourth in appearances, and seventh in innings pitched.
Fairbanks said leaving the Rays will be bittersweet: “I would have loved to have spent as many years as I could have down here, but with the expectation that I kind of had when I signed the extension, I felt like I got an extra stolen two months out of it. I have nothing but love for the organization and everybody that makes it up. It’s sad to go, but I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
“He’s been a part of a lot of special things on the field, Erik Neander, the President of Baseball Operation, said. “And the work in the community and the interactions with fans in his own personal signature, unique, memorable way. It makes these decisions difficult.”
“Even without all that, it still was a hard decision, but one we felt we needed to make to give ourselves some flexibility as we enter the winter here.”
Fairbanks was good but not great as a closer as he allowed too many opposing runs to cross home plate when the game was on the line. It sounds as though the Rays are going to allocate that $11 million to target other areas of the club that need improvement. Think outfield, catcher, and shortstop.
So, how do the Rays replace Pete Fairbanks? That will be up to manager Kevin Cash, but it appears that they will start the season with a closer-by-committee approach.
The Rays have several pitchers who could be used in high-leverage situations, including in the closer role. Edwin Uceta, who struggled in the first half of the season, finished the season on a high note and is one candidate. Lefty Garrett Cleavinger should be considered. The two pitchers that the Rays acquired mid-summer last season will also be in the mix. Right-hander Griffin Jax was acquired from Minnesota, and Bryan Baker was acquired from the Orioles. Also, don’t discount Hunter Bigge and Manny Rodriguez.
The Rays’ bullpen going into spring training next year will also include Mason Montgomery, Cole Sulser, Kevin Kelly, Eric Orze, Mason Englert, and Joe Rock. So there will be no shortage of candidates to fill the closer role.
The Rays’ bullpen ranked second last season in strikeout rate, but seemed to collapse at the most inopportune times.
Neander said that they feel pretty good about the pen as a group:“We feel pretty good about the ingredients of that unit. I think we’ll still look for ways to improve it, certainly.”
The countdown to spring training has already started with pitchers and catchers reporting in a little over three months in mid-February.