The free agent reliever Pete Fairbanks and the Marlins have agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Wednesday.
Fairbanks became a free agent for the first time this winter, heading into his age-32 season, when the Rays declined his $11 million option for 2026 and paid $1 million in compensation. That decision closed the chapter on a successful time with Tampa Bay. After three straight seasons with at least 23 saves, Fairbanks left the Rays with the third-most saves in franchise history (90), as well as the fourth-most games pitched (267).
A ninth-round pick by the Rangers in the 2015 draft out of the University of Missouri, Fairbanks pitched briefly for Texas in 2019 before being traded to Tampa Bay that July. By the following season, he established himself as a key member of Tampa Bay’s bullpen as the team made a run to the World Series. From 2020 to 2025, he appeared in 254 games, recorded 88 saves, had a 2.87 ERA and struck out 11.2 batters per 9.0 innings, while opponents posted an OPS of just .584.
The biggest problem for Fairbanks during his time with the Rays was staying healthy. He spent time on the injured list in each season from 2021 to 2024 before avoiding it in 2025, when he set career marks with 61 appearances and 60.1 innings.
Fairbanks continued to be effective in 2025, with a 2.83 earned run average and 27 saves in 32 opportunities, but there were some worrying signs beneath the surface. From 2023 to 2025, Fairbanks’ strikeout rate decreased from 37.0% (one of the best in the Major Leagues) to 24.2% (just 2 percentage points above the league average).
On the other hand, Fairbanks maintained elite average fastball velocity (97.3 mph) and excelled at limiting damaging contact (barrel rate in the 93rd percentile). In addition to his powerful four-seam fastball, Fairbanks relies heavily on a slider as his primary strikeout pitch, also integrating some changeups and cutters.
