Dodgers Trade Deadline: Pete Fairbanks Interest

Less than 48 hours remain before the MLB trade deadline on Thursday, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to make a move amid plenty of speculation over potential deals.

One certainty figures to be the Dodgers addressing their bullpen. Manager Dave Roberts has specifically mentioned the club is in need of a right-handed relief pitcher who could handle leverage situations.

Among the options the Dodgers have been connected to over recent weeks are Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, Minnesota Twins teammates Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, and St. Louis Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Fairbanks remains an option the Dodgers have interest in:

A name that’s on the Dodgers’ radar, per league sources: Tampa Bay Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks. It doesn’t appear a deal is anywhere near close and there are a ton of suitors for the reliever’s services, but Fairbanks fits a type.

At the start of July the Dodgers were reported as wanting to trade for Fairbanks or a similar reliever. The 31-year-old not only is the Rays’ closer this season but much of his career is filled with pitching in high leverage.

Over his career in the regular season, Fairbanks has a 3.20 ERA, 2.89 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 29.9% strikeout rate and a 9.8% walk rate.

This year, Fairbanks has seen his strikeout numbers drop with a 20.2% strikeout rate, but he still holds a 2.75 ERA and 2.89 FIP in 39.1 innings while allowing just one home run.

Will the Rays trade Pete Fairbanks?

Although Fairbanks is the subject of widespread interest, it’s not yet clear if the Rays would move forward with a trade. They entered Tuesday just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and have seemingly balanced becoming sellers with buying during deadline week.

On Monday, the Rays traded Danny Jansen to the Milwaukee Brewers while nearly simultaneously working to acquire Nick Fortes from the Miami Marlins.

A recent report indicated the Rays’ preference is to keep Fairbanks at the deadline. He’s on a team-friendly contract this season and the Rays hold a $7 million team option on Fairbanks for 2026.