As the MLB Winter Meetings approach, trade winds are swirling around Tampa Bay Rays pitchers, and one name consistently surfacing in discussions is dominant reliever Pete Fairbanks. Alongside fellow pitcher Jeffrey Springs, Fairbanks is reportedly drawing significant interest from teams across the league seeking to bolster their pitching staff. This attention is hardly surprising given Fairbanks’ established track record as a high-leverage weapon in the bullpen.
It’s also no secret that the Rays, known for their shrewd roster management and financial considerations, might be open to dealing from their pitching depth. Springs carries one of the highest salaries for 2025 on the team, and while Fairbanks’ $3.67 million salary for 2025 is more team-friendly, both pitchers represent valuable assets that could fetch significant returns in the trade market. Both Fairbanks and Springs are under team control through the 2026 season, adding to their appeal for potential suitors. Fairbanks has a $7 million team option for 2026, while Springs is slated to earn $10.5 million in 2026 with a $15 million team option for 2027.
Rays LHP Jeffrey Springs and RHP Pete Fairbanks are among the Tampa Bay pitchers garnering trade interest in the days before the Winter Meetings, as I reported today on @MLBNetwork.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 3, 2024
Pete Fairbanks: Dominance and Durability
Pete Fairbanks, who will turn 31 later this month, has solidified his role as a premier high-leverage reliever for the Rays over recent seasons. His fastball velocity and aggressive pitching style make him a formidable presence on the mound when games are on the line. However, Fairbanks’ career has also been marked by intermittent injury setbacks, raising questions about his long-term durability.
Fairbanks’ injury history includes missing a significant portion of the 2022 season due to back issues. He also experienced injured list stints in 2023 and again in 2024, with the latest sidelining him for the final six weeks of the season. Even when healthy, Fairbanks has reported occasional finger numbness, particularly in colder weather conditions, which can impact his availability.
Despite these injury concerns, Fairbanks’ performance metrics speak volumes about his talent. In the 2024 season, he posted a 3.57 ERA and a 3.50 FIP across 45 1/3 innings, coupled with a 23.8% strikeout rate and a 9.2% walk rate. Looking at a broader timeframe, since the beginning of the 2020 season, among relievers with at least 170 innings pitched, Fairbanks ranks among the elite, holding the 7th lowest FIP (2.73) and the 8th highest strikeout rate (32.0%). These statistics underscore his effectiveness and potential impact on any team’s bullpen.
Given his injury profile, a trade involving Pete Fairbanks might not yield a king’s ransom in terms of top-tier prospects. However, his proven ability as a dominant reliever should still allow the Rays to acquire a valuable major league-ready player who can contribute to their roster in 2025 and beyond, as they navigate their roster construction for the upcoming season.
Jeffrey Springs: Valuable Starter with Upside
Jeffrey Springs, acquired by the Rays in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in February 2021, has evolved into a versatile and valuable pitching asset. Initially showcasing his strikeout ability as a reliever, Springs transitioned into the Rays’ starting rotation and experienced a breakout season in 2022. He accumulated 3.1 fWAR and earned a 4-year, $31 million contract extension as a testament to his performance and potential. Springs appeared poised for even greater success in 2023, but unfortunately, an injury limited him to just 16 innings before requiring Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for a significant period.
Springs made a successful return to the major league mound towards the end of July in the past season. Over 33 innings upon his return, he recorded a 3.27 ERA and a 3.98 FIP, maintaining a strong 26.1% strikeout rate and a 7.7% walk rate. However, elbow fatigue led to another injured list stint in early September. With the Rays out of playoff contention, the team opted to shut down Springs for the remainder of the season, despite MRI results indicating a healthy elbow, to ensure his full recovery and readiness for the following year.
Rays manager Kevin Cash commented on Springs’ health in September:
“MRI looked awesome, very encouraged, very clean. We will have him healthy for next season. […] As much as he wants to (come back), I think we put our heads together (and felt) it’s probably best not to slow him down, build him back up and try to force an outing in there.”
[Tampa Bay Times]
Springs’ background as a reliever and his recent injury history might be perceived by some teams as a factor that slightly diminishes his trade value. However, his relatively lower workload compared to other starters could also be viewed as a positive, suggesting less wear and tear on his arm. When considering comparable free agent signings, such as Michael Wacha and Frankie Montas signing multi-year deals at $17 million AAV, and Yusei Kikuchi at $21 million AAV, Springs’ contract, with an AAV of $10.5 million and a team option, presents significant value. His performance when healthy has arguably surpassed all three of these pitchers, making him an attractive acquisition for teams seeking quality starting pitching at a reasonable cost.
Springs Performance Comparison (2022-2024)
| Name | Contract (yr/$m) | AAV ($m) | G | GS | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | ERA | FIP | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Springs | 2/21, option 15 | 10.5 | 43 | 35 | 184.1 | 10.01 | 2.25 | 0.98 | 2.44 | 3.10 | 4.2 |
| Michael Wacha | 3/51, option 14 | 17 | 76 | 76 | 428.1 | 7.84 | 2.50 | 1.05 | 3.30 | 3.87 | 7.5 |
| Yusei Kikuchi | 3/63 | 21 | 96 | 84 | 444.0 | 10.36 | 3.04 | 1.52 | 4.24 | 4.20 | 5.1 |
| Frankie Montas | 2/34 | 17 | 58 | 57 | 296.1 | 8.84 | 3.34 | 1.28 | 4.43 | 4.25 | 3.4 |
FanGraphs Data
For teams considering acquiring Springs, his time off due to injury could paradoxically be viewed as an advantage. As a former reliever with a history of elbow injury, he potentially has fewer accumulated innings and less arm fatigue compared to his peers, which could translate to greater longevity and durability in the long run. As the Winter Meetings unfold, both Pete Fairbanks and Jeffrey Springs represent intriguing trade possibilities for teams aiming to strengthen their pitching staffs for the upcoming MLB season.
