Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Pete Fairbanks

Coming off a 2024 season in which he struggled, Fairbanks bounced back in 2025. He posted a 2.83 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched, but the strikeout rate did not revert to the 13.5 K/9 he had back in 2023. The 8.8 K/9 in 2025 was the second-lowest mark in his career behind the 8.74 in 2024.

Another alarming sign was his HR/9 jumping from .79 to 1.04 last season, but perhaps that had to do with the home ballpark that he was pitching in.

Those numbers aside, Fairbanks is coming off his career highs in innings pitched and saves. When a player has a track record similar to that of Fairbanks’, one that proves his ability to successfully pitch in a high-leverage role, there’s a chance that teams are going to see this as just a blip.

Free Agent Profile: Pete Fairbanks

• Age in 2026: 32
• 2025 Stats: 61 G, 60.1 IP, 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.80 K/9, 1.0 fWAR
• 2025 Salary: $4 million
• Qualifying Offer Eligibility: No

Contract Projection

• Contract Length Expectation: 1-3 years
• Expected AAV: $8-14 million

As previously mentioned, Fairbanks immediately becomes one of the top relief pitchers on the market. After Edwin Díaz, he and Robert Suarez compete for the second-best reliever available.

With that being said, Fairbanks is going to have his fair share of suitors — many of them being contenders looking to solidify the back end of their bullpen.

With the recent reports coming out of the GM meetings, being that relievers are going to be the first to come off the board, there’s a good chance Fairbanks isn’t unemployed for long.

Free Agent Landing Spots for Pete Fairbanks

Boston Red Sox

In a recent article via The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal reported the Red Sox’s intentions of creating a “super pen” this offseason. Should that actually be the case, the familiarity that Fairbanks has with the AL East could make him a strong option for Craig Breslow’s plan.

With Aroldis Chapman coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, he is entering 2026 as the team’s primary closer. While Fairbanks is likely going to command closer-type money, adding him to the fold to serve as the setup man would bode well for a team looking to get back into the postseason in 2026.

Even then, having two opposite-handed options to pitch the ninth could help the Sox matchup better at the end of the game, depending on the situations that present themselves. Add Garrett Whitlock into the fold, and Fairbanks would help form an elite three-headed monster to close out games for Boston.

Chicago Cubs

Having the Cubs linked to high-end closers is surely becoming a trend this offseason.

While the bullpen ended the season ranked 11th in baseball with a 3.78 ERA, that was in large part due to their success in the second half, where they pitched to a 3.60 ERA from August 1 on. There is reason to believe that the slow start is the reason why they let the NL Central lead slip.

As it currently stands, Daniel Palencia looks to be the penciled-in closer as they head into the 2026 season. Aside from him, the rest of the ‘pen is truly a question mark.

The interest in Fairbanks dates back to the 2025 trade deadline, where the Cubs were rumored to be interested in trading for the former Rays closer. They were also deep in talks to sign Tanner Scott last offseason before he signed with the Dodgers.

This could be their chance to finish the deal and bring in their late-inning arm.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Please do not click away. I know that a lot of baseball fans are tired of seeing the Dodgers linked to the top players in the market every offseason. However, this is truly a need for the 2025 World Series champions.

It does feel weird to say the champs have a need, but coming off an offseason in which they linked Tanner Scott to a big deal to seemingly lock down the closer role, he wasn’t even on the roster for the World Series. They were also the 12th-worst bullpen during the regular season in ERA.

Fairbanks should step right into the role that Blake Treinen was supposed to have for them this year, and if Scott isn’t able to figure things out, Fairbanks would be the new closer for the Dodgers in 2026.

New York Mets

Add another big-market, contending team to the list of potential suitors for Fairbanks’ services.

For the Mets, they are heading into the offseason with Gregory Soto, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and All-Star closer Díaz joining Fairbanks in free agency. Even if they were able to bring Díaz back, the Mets are still going to need high-level options at the back end of their bullpen if they want to right the ship after missing out on the postseason in 2025.

Like the Cubs, the Mets were also rumored to be sniffing around the Fairbanks market at the deadline. If owner Steve Cohen is going to continue to invest big into this roster, Fairbanks could find his way to Queens.

Toronto Blue Jays

What a ride it was for the Blue Jays in 2025. If you were to have created a poll as to where the Blue Jays would have placed in the AL East this past year, you would have had more votes for fourth place than you would have for first, let alone end up making it to Game 7 of the World Series.

By now, everyone has seen the clip that swung the World Series in the Dodgers’ favor, and, for the sake of the Toronto fans reading this article, I will spare the details. Just like the Dodgers did last offseason, the Blue Jays made a long-term commitment to a closer in Jeff Hoffman.

The Blue Jays also made it a point to really stockpile back-end options at the deadline. Two days before the trade deadline, they had Seranthony Domínguez walk over to the other clubhouse after acquiring him from the Orioles while they were in Toronto.

Then, on deadline day, they made a significant trade with the Twins in a deal that got them Louis Varland. Varland then tied the record for the most appearances in a single postseason with 15.

Hoffman would likely enter the 2026 season as the team’s closer. If he continues to struggle the way he did in the back-half of the 2025 season, I would have a hard time seeing the Blue Jays not turn to Fairbanks if they were to sign him.

Like with the Red Sox, his familiarity with pitching in the AL East would be a plus for the closer. This team is gearing up to make another run at a title, and adding Fairbanks would be a huge piece in accomplishing that.