Rays agree to extension with reliever Fairbanks

*Photo from the Tampa Bay Times*

   One of the members of the famed "stable" in the 2020 playoffs is locked up again. The Tampa Bay Rays and RHP Pete Fairbanks have agreed to a 3 year, $12 million contract extension, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays have confirmed the deal.

   Fairbanks will make $11 million over the 3 seasons guaranteed, with the contract covering all 3 of his arbitration seasons. There is a club option for 2026 that is worth $1 million, guaranteeing Fairbanks $12 million. There are incentives that can push the value of the option to $11 million.

   Rays GM Peter Bendix said of Fairbanks that "Pete has really shown that he can be a dominant force in our bullpen, a dominant reliever that you want to use at the end of games. Pitching and defense, and especially our bullpen, has been a strength of ours, and hope that it will stay that way and envision Pete being a really big part of that moving forward."

   Fairbanks was limited to about half the season in 2022, missing significant time with a lat injury. He ended the season with a 0.67 WHIP, 0.86 FIP, and 1.13 ERA, striking out 38 hitters while throwing 24 innings in 24 appearances.

   Asked about signing his extension, Fairbanks said that "To be able to lock it in in a place and a destination that I have been vocal about to peers through the organization that this is someplace that I really, really want to be, I think that to have both of those come together is a great thing."

   Since debuting in the 2019 season, Fairbanks has suited up for the Rays and Texas Rangers. In that time, Fairbanks has posted a 3.46 ERA, 2.83 FIP, and 1.30 WHIP, throwing 114 1/3 innings over 119 appearances. In the postseason, Fairbanks has a 1.47 WHIP and 3.60 ERA in 15 innings pitched, totaling 12 appearances.

   Throughout his career, Fairbanks has dealt with his share of injuries. In addition to the lat injury in 2022, he has undergone Tommy John Surgery twice, hit the IL with shoulder injuries twice in 2021, and left his only appearance in the 2022 playoffs after facing two batters due to numbness in his fingers.

   Fairbanks and Jeffrey Springs are two pitchers the Rays have agreed to extensions with this offseason as they try to rebound from a disappointing end to 2022.