US EditionRays Closer Pete Fairbanks Becomes Free Agent when Option Declined. Rays Keep Brandon Lowe
The Rays opted for a $1 million buyout due to payroll limits despite Fairbanks’ 27 saves in 2025 and strong relief corps returning.
- On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays declined an $11,000,000 option on closer Pete Fairbanks, making him a free agent while exercising an $11.5 million option on Brandon Lowe.
- Facing payroll limits, the Rays chose to pay a $1 million buyout rather than allocate a significant portion of payroll to relief, citing a strong returning Rays relief corps.
- Fairbanks combines a 97 mph fastball with a well-above-average slider and a midseason cutter graded as elite, backing his 83 saves, 2.83 ERA and 332 strikeouts.
- Ranked behind Edwin Diaz, Pete Fairbanks slots into a second tier with Devin Williams, Robert Suarez, Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers and should draw multiyear interest in a soft market.
- Meanwhile, the Rays added a $3.1 million club option for 2027 and exercised a $2,450,000 option on infielder Taylor Walls.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Associated Press News
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks becomes free agent when option declined. Rays keep Brandon Lowe
The Tampa Bay Rays declined an $11 million option on Pete Fairbanks, allowing their closer to become a free agent, while exercising an $11.5 million option on Brandon Lowe.
Rays pick up '26 options on Lowe, Walls; decline Fairbanks' option
The Rays are picking up their contract options on both second baseman Brandon Lowe and shortstop Taylor Walls, but they declined to pick up the club option for reliever Pete Fairbanks, the team announced on Thursday. Also among a bevy of other roster moves on Thursday, the Rays reinstated Walls
Red Sox Rival Lets Pitcher Enter Free Agency With Option Decline
An American League East club put another prominent pitcher on the open market Thursday. The Tampa Bay Rays declined Peter Fairbanks’ $11 million club option for 2026, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Their closer from the last three seasons is now a free agent. This would be a surprising move coming from most other clubs. Fairbanks has posted a 2.98 ERA in seven seasons with the Rays, and he delivered a 2.83 ERA and 27 saves in a career-high 60 1/3 innin…
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