The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a strong 2025 season, but one that came up just short in the World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the series in seven games, and now the two teams head into big offseasons. They're expected to be among the top suitors for a few of the big-name free agents, like Kyle Tucker.
But according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Blue Jays and Dodgers are expected to compete for the services of a former Tampa Bay Rays reliever coming off a 2.83 ERA season.
Blue Jays set to compete with Dodgers for former Rays reliever
Pete Fairbanks didn't have his option picked up by the Rays, as he becomes a free agent, and will likely have plenty of suitors.
"But even in a free-agent market that includes closers Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams and Robert Suarez," Rosenthal writes, "Fairbanks should attract considerable interest, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among the expected suitors."
Fairbanks is 31 years old, but will be 32 at the start of the 2026 MLB season. The seven-year veteran has spent time with the Texas Rangers and the Rays.
His best years have come in the last few seasons, with his 2025 year being one of his best. He had a 2.83 ERA in 61 appearances, putting up 59 strikeouts and a 1.044 WHIP across 60.1 innings pitched.
The 2025 campaign was the most work he's had in a season, with the next highest inning count being his back-to-back 45.1 inning seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Since 2020, Fairbanks has been one of the better relievers in baseball. In that span, across 254 games and 244.1 innings, he has a 2.87 ERA, 88 saves, and 5.5 bWAR.
Adding a reliever like Fairbanks would be a nice pickup for the Blue Jays, especially with the concerns about Jeff Hoffman. Fairbanks would be a great pickup for Toronto.
The only issue is that the Blue Jays will have to compete with the Dodgers for him. Hopefully, for Toronto, they'll beat the Dodgers this time, as Fairbanks would be a great addition to the bullpen in Toronto.
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