The Tampa Bay Rays’ offseason plods along as they see former talent sign elsewhere. The Pete Fairbanks departure was inevitable after the Rays declined his option at the start of the winter. They reportedly shopped him around the league, but couldn’t find any takers. The native of Texas walked away with a $1 million contract buyout.
Two minutes into his remote introductory press conference, Pete Fairbanks is already living up to his reputation as one of the game’s most entertaining personalities.#Marlins
— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) December 31, 2025
Tampa Bay has assembled strong bullpens in recent years, but this current group may need strengthening. When considering the remarkable health in the starting rotation, the bullpen got a reprieve because they didn’t need to shoulder an inordinate amount of innings. None of it mattered as the club posted shaky relief work during the most crucial stretch of the season. Are things looking any better?
Fairbanks Finds a Taker
Give the Miami Marlins credit for signing a durable late-inning reliever. Fairbanks reunited with former Rays boss Peter Bendix on a one-year, $13 million price tag. Fairbanks benefited because he secured more guaranteed money than the difference between the $11 million option and the $1 million buyout. He should stabilize Miami’s creaky bullpen. Despite his underlying metrics and strikeout rates showing signs of decline, Fairbanks still posted a 2.83 ERA in a career-high 60 1/3 innings. On the other hand, he gave up a ton of hard contact and has a lengthy injury history.
The Rays will be able to move on without the services of Fairbanks next season. The question will be how they fill those innings under such a tight budget.
Jax or Bust?
Griffin Jax seems like the linchpin for this group of relievers. There has been plenty of conversation surrounding the possibility of Jax converting to a starter. The Rays must be careful because Jax struggled as a starter earlier in his career. In his rookie 2021 campaign, he made 14 starts and posted a grisly 6.10 ERA. The Minnesota organization then made the brilliant decision to stretch him out as a reliever. Since 2022, Jax has pitched 274 2/3 innings with a 3.34 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 30.3% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate.
The Rays need to solidify their rotation depth with names like Zack Littell or Patrick Corbin. If acquired, that could lead to the Rays sending someone like Joe Boyle or Ian Seymour back to the bullpen.
A Look at the Others
Edwin Uceta was another guy who had a fantastic season in 2025. He finished the season with a 10-3 record, 3.79 ERA, and 103 strikeouts in 76 innings. The first few months were a little rocky and nothing like his sublime 2024 campaign, but the native of the Dominican Republic turned it around.
Garrett Cleavinger had a fantastic season with the potential for a higher upside in 2026. Cleavinger pitched to a 2.35 ERA in 67 games with a 0.95 WHIP. He nearly cut his walks in half, but allowed a career-high nine home runs on the season. He limited the damage since six of those home runs came with the bases empty. Cleavinger will be particularly difficult for left-handed hitters.
Bryan Baker turned things around after a rocky debut in a Rays uniform. Baker could find himself getting closer opportunities because his stuff is nasty. He posted a healthy 30.3% strikeout rate and 6.2% walk rate last season. He had a 24.5% put-away rate on his four-seam fastball. In short, Baker really only permits hard contact when an opposing batter can square him up, which he can limit with a healthy dose of swing-and-miss.
Keeping Fingers Crossed
The Rays’ bullpen is prone to developing an oft-overlooked pitcher. Maybe the next Uceta will step forward from the bullpen this season. The Rays can always be counted on to discover the next elite pitcher.
Manuel Rodriguez will return mid-season following an injury. He was an emerging star in the bullpen, but suffered an injury that eventually required surgery. Rodriguez throws incredibly hard with a sinker that clocks in a few ticks above 97 mph. When Rodriguez returns from injury, he will play a very important role for the Rays.
Yoendrys Gomez and Steven Wilson are newcomers from a trade with the Chicago White Sox in early November. Mason Englert is another solid pitcher when healthy, as he pitched to a 3.83 ERA in 44 2/3 innings with a 23.8% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images