The Los Angeles Dodgers made significant investments last offseason to craft a dominant bullpen, signing Tanner Scott (four years, $72 million), Kirby Yates (one year, $13 million), and Blake Treinen (two years, $22 million) to complement an already strong relief corps.
While the strategy helped LA secure the 2024 World Series, the results on the mound didn’t always follow. Scott posted a 4.74 ERA, Yates struggled to 5.23, and Treinen recorded the worst season of his career with a 5.40 ERA. None of the trio contributed meaningfully in the playoffs, exposing vulnerabilities the Dodgers will want to address this winter.
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Enter Pete Fairbanks
A potential solution has emerged in free agency: Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks. The Rays declined their $11 million club option on Fairbanks, making him available to the market. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be the most aggressive suitors.
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Fairbanks, who will turn 32 in December, was one of MLB’s most consistent relievers in 2025, making 61 appearances with a 2.83 ERA, 27 saves, and 59 strikeouts over 60.1 innings. His fastball averaged 97.3 mph, ranking in the 90th percentile, while his slider induced a swing-and-miss on 30.8 percent of swings and limited opponents to a .173 batting average. Over his career, he has a 3.19 ERA across 265.1 innings, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in three of the last four seasons.
“Fairbanks has been stacking consistent work and production,” Rosenthal noted, highlighting his versatility as a setup man or closer capable of handling late-inning high-leverage situations.
Competition and Considerations
The Dodgers will likely face stiff competition from the Blue Jays, the AL finalist from last season. Both teams are no strangers to targeting top-tier bullpen arms, and Fairbanks’ track record makes him a coveted option. Spotrac projects a three-year, $41.3 million contract for Fairbanks, averaging $13.8 million per season. While not a massive outlay for a contender, teams must weigh his Raynaud’s syndrome, which can affect grip in colder conditions, particularly in October games.
Why It Matters for the Dodgers
Adding Fairbanks could stabilize a Dodgers bullpen that has struggled to hold leads despite a stacked roster. Jeff Passan of ESPN observed, “They never run it back. They always are looking to add.” With the Dodgers aiming to defend their consecutive titles, a dependable late-inning arm like Fairbanks could prove vital in high-stakes postseason matchups.
If LA lands him, it would be another example of the Dodgers leveraging their resources and scouting to maintain a championship-caliber roster while also navigating the challenges of a volatile free-agent market.