Also by suggestion from the article I posted here Monday, let’s take a look at former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, now a free agent.
Fairbanks, originally a ninth-round pick of the Rangers in 2015 from the University of Missouri, was traded to the Rays in 2019. He’s been the Tampa Bay closer for the last three seasons, posting a total of 75 saves over that span with 13 blown saves (85 percent success rate).
One of the things I’ve heard said about Fairbanks is that his velocity dropped over the last
year but based on these charts, I don’t see that.
Here’s his 2024 pitch chart:
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And here’s his chart from 2025:
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Looks pretty much the same to me — except he added a cutter in 2025, which makes for a better pitch selection.
Fairbanks just turned 32 yesterday, so Happy Belated Birthday!
He also has three years’ worth of postseason experience with the Rays (2020, 2021, 2022).
At that age and with that sort of talent, Fairbanks is likely worth a good free-agent contract and even though I believe Daniel Palencia should be the Cubs closer going forward, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sign Fairbanks to either a) set up for Palencia or b) close games if Palencia falters, or if Palencia does too many back-to-backs.
Fairbanks had an $11 million team option with the Rays for 2026, which they declined and paid him a $1 million buyout. MLB Trade Rumors says Fairbanks might get a two-year, $18 million deal. Which I would absolutely, positively do. The Cubs have spent nearly that sort of money on Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly the last two years and Pete Fairbanks is much more likely to be worth it. Heck, I’d even go three years for a guy like that at this sort of AAV.
Get it done, Cubs.
