Rays Opt Out of Pete Fairbanks Contract
The Tampa Bay Rays have officially opted out of reliever Pete Fairbanks’ $11 million contract, making him a free agent. This decision was reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Fairbanks has been a significant player for the Rays throughout his career, which has mostly been spent in Tampa Bay. He was acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for outfield prospect Nick Solak.
Fairbanks’ Career Overview
Since joining the Rays, Pete Fairbanks has established himself as one of MLB’s top late-game pitchers. Over the past six seasons, he has maintained an impressive 2.87 earned run average (ERA) across nearly 250 innings of play. This performance has solidified him as a crucial member of Tampa Bay’s pitching staff.
Strikeout Rates and Performance
In the earlier stages of his career, Fairbanks showcased exceptional strikeout abilities. From 2020 to 2023, he achieved a remarkable strikeout rate of nearly 35%, consistently fanning at least 29% of batters faced each season. However, his strikeout rate has declined in the last two years, stabilizing around 24%.
- 2020-2023 strikeout percentage: ~35%
- Recent seasons strikeout percentage: ~24%
- 2023 swinging strike percentage: 12.6%
- League average strikeout rate for relievers: 22.8%
- League average swinging strike percentage: 11.5%
Recent Achievements
Despite the drop in strikeout rates, Fairbanks remains a strong asset in the bullpen. In the 2023 season, he recorded a 2.83 ERA over 60.1 innings. He converted 27 out of 32 save opportunities, marking his third consecutive season with at least 23 saves.
Pitch Velocity and Health
Fairbanks’ fastball velocity has seen a slight decrease since his peak in 2022-2023, where he averaged over 99 MPH. Currently, he throws consistently above 97 MPH, complemented by a mid-80s slider. Notably, he did not spend any time on the injured list this past year, despite previous concerns regarding lat and forearm issues.
As a free agent, Fairbanks is poised to attract attention from various teams seeking a reliable late-game reliever. His mix of skill and experience continues to make him a valuable player on the market.
