Phillies Trade Idea Solves 'Grave' Bullpen Need With Career 76-Save Closer

Needless to say, the Phillies' number one trade deadline target should be a high-end reliever, and that's exactly what ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan suggested within an article on June 3.

"Maybe it's [Pete] Fairbanks. Maybe it's [Kyle] Finnegan. Maybe it's both. Or even more," Passan noted. "The Phillies' bullpen has been one of the worst in baseball. Even if it was much better in May."

Passan settled on the Tampa Bay Rays closer, Fairbanks, as the "best fit" for Philadelphia at the deadline. And this is an intriguing idea for the Phillies.

Fairbanks is a proven high-leverage reliever with 76 career saves, including the playoffs. In 2025, he has pitched to a filthy 2.05 ERA with 10 saves and 17 total games that he's "finished" in a save or non-save situation.

Fairbanks also has adequate to good swing-and-miss stuff, with a career strikeouts per nine average of 11.7 that is down a little bit this year at exactly 9.0. Meaning he has struck out the same number of batters as innings pitched (22 Ks in 22.0 IP).

After beginning his MLB career as a ninth-round pick of the Texas Rangers, Fairbanks has worked his way up the ladder with the Rays. He turned 31 years old in December, and still has plenty of prime years left as a reliever.

Lastly, a trade for Fairbanks could be a two-year move, as he has a $7 million club option in his contract for 2026.

"With Jose Alvarado down for 80 games and out for the postseason following a PED suspension, the need for help is that much more grave," Passan concluded, and he's right.