Marlins add veteran closer Pete Fairbanks in biggest free-agent pickup in years

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald on Dec 24, 2025

Published in Baseball

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MIAMI — The Marlins made their first sizable free-agent investment in two years on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with veteran right-hander closer Pete Fairbanks on a one-year, $13 million deal.

The deal is agreed to but contingent on Fairbanks passing a physical, according to a source.

Fairbanks will become the team’s second-highest paid player, behind Sandy Alcantara, and gives the Marlins their most established closer in several years.

Fairbanks, 32, had 27 saves (in 32 chances) and a 2.83 ERA in 61 games for Tampa last season, allowing 63 base-runners in 60 1/3 innings, with 59 strikeouts.

He had 90 saves (and 18 blown saves) and a 2.98 ERA in seven seasons for Tampa. Peter Bendix, the Marlins’ president/baseball operations, was particularly familiar with Fairbanks because of their time together with the Rays. Several other teams pursued him.

Fairbanks reaches the high 90s on his fastball and also has a hard slider.

The Marlins lost a key bullpen component this week when Ronny Henriquez underwent UCL (elbow surgery) that will sideline him all season.

Fairbanks will headline a bullpen also featuring Luke Bachar, Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher, Andrew Nardi, Tyler Phillips and perhaps Josh White.

A native of Milwaukee, Fairbanks attended the University of Missouri and was drafted in the ninth round, by the Texas Rangers, in 2015.

Fairbanks suffered a second torn UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery a second time during the 2017 season.

He made his big league debut with the Rangers in 2019 the Rangers traded Fairbanks to the Rays for Nick Solak.

Fairbanks signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Rays in January 2023. The Rays declined his $11 million option in November, and Fairbanks ended up getting $2 million more than that with the Marlins.

He’s the Marlins’ second free-agent addition of the offseason, joining Christopher Morel, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal. Morel is expected to be used at first base, a position he has never played before.