The Rays Have Questions to Answer Regarding Their Closer

The Rays Have a Pete Fairbanks Problem

Turbulence in the Ninth Inning

Fairbanks has been a member of the Rays since a 2019 trade with the Texas Rangers. In 54 games this season, Fairbanks has a 4-5 record with a 3.21 ERA and 24 saves. He has a 3.68 FIP along with a 25% strikeout rate and a 7.3% walk rate. Alarmingly, Fairbanks has allowed a career-high seven home runs this season.

On Sunday, the Rays were tied with the Cleveland Guardians in the ninth inning of a game with enormous wild-card implications. Fairbanks yielded a single and a walk before getting a sac bunt and a strikeout to temporarily calm the waters. Steven Kwan then lined a fastball at the top of the strike zone for an infield hit that brought home the go-ahead run. The pitch was not terrible, but the result was emblematic of the unfortunate season Fairbanks has experienced. In the first game of the Guardians series, he surrendered back-to-back solo home runs in a game that the Rays thankfully still won. Bottom line, the numbers in his last seven appearances (seven innings) with a 7.71 ERA and only two saves are leaving fans with a bad taste in their mouth.

There Are Still Positives

Fairbanks is durable, averaging approximately 49 appearances over the last three seasons while staying surprisingly healthy. He is one of the more durable arms in the bullpen and has amassed at least 23 saves in each of the last three seasons, and is on pace to eclipse his career high in saves. The numbers have deteriorated recently, specifically as the Rays attempt to make a long-shot push for the playoffs.

The numbers at the end of the season may look better. Plus, Fairbanks possesses veteran leadership in a clubhouse that needs that type of experience as they play more meaningful games. Maybe Griffin Jax can help save games, but Garrett Cleavinger has little to no history with entering the game in that crucial situation.

What Does the Future Hold?

Fairbanks is in the last year of a three-year, $12 million contract that has a team option for 2026. The most obvious decision this winter will be to pick up that option for next season. An approximately $10 million option for a theoretical closer is good value when you consider the salaries of others around baseball. You think it’s better money than Ryan Pressly is getting for a really poor season?

If not Fairbanks, then who will be the closer for the Rays? Unless new ownership has some grand budgetary plan, then the Rays would be well-served to pick up the option. Fairbanks is pitching in a thankless situation that may or may not always be his fault. The Rays have plenty of work to do in revamping the bullpen, but Fairbanks should not be a casualty of that restoration.