Marlins sign Pete Fairbanks to 1-year, $13 million deal

[Ely Sussman]

The Miami Marlins are signing Pete Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million deal. It includes a $12 million salary, $1 million signing bonus, $1 million in incentives based on total appearances and a $500,000 acquisition bonus if he is traded during the 2026 season. The deal is pending a physical. Will Sammon of The Athletic was first to report Tuesday afternoon that an agreement had been reached.

Fairbanks, who turned 32 earlier this month, has spent the vast majority of his MLB career with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2025, he set career-highs with 60 ⅓ innings pitched and 27 saves, though his 3.61 FIP was the worst mark since his rookie season. The Rays could've retained him for 2026 on an $11 million club option, but declined it.

Fairbanks has generally utilized a two-pitch arsenal, consisting of a four-seam fastball and slider. However, he gradually increased his changeup usage last season to 4.9% and also introduced a cutter in September.

The Marlins upped their offer to Fairbanks recently, as Fish On First's Isaac Azout reported last week. Losing Ronny Henriquez to season-ending elbow surgery may have pushed them to sweeten the deal even more. Various other reports linked Fairbanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers during his free agent process.

Adding Fairbanks along with Christopher Morel (1-YR/$2M) means that the Marlins have signed multiple players to fully guaranteed major league free agent deals in the same offseason. The last time that happened was 2022-23 (Johnny Cueto and Jean Segura).

Miami's 40-man roster is full, so there will have to be a corresponding move for them to officially announce the signing of Fairbanks.

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[Jose Herrera]

A premier bullpen reliever, not bad. Bendix took a chance on him in Tampa and Fairbanks ran with it. Good on Fairbanks for helping us.

[Miami Italiano]

There are other teams that didn't resign players, you know...

[MarlinzDude86]

I like to think we would've signed him regardless of Henriquez being injured, but I'm happy with the signing nonetheless. We got a bat and a we got a closer so far. 😎

[One Regend]

Oh my, the Marlins finally got veteran relief help. What a christmas miracle.

All it took was losing Ronny Henriquez to the cruel Tommy John gods in order to actually get it done.

Now they need to address the corner infield spots. They can't be serious about competing if they're relying on Graham Pauley at 3B and Christopher Morel at 1B.

[Dave]

This is not a serious organization.  Vinnie Viola, or someone else who prioritizes winning, should buy the Marlins.  We’re so hungry for a competitive team that we actually celebrate last year’s team.  

[Hippyboi]

I like the signing, but sadly a break even with losing Henriquez.

I think Pauley may surprise, but Morel at 1st is worrisome

[1993 fan from start]

Peter Fairbanks as I read wanted 15.5m to leave Florida plus bonus and insentive to make guess apprence . Got total of 16 million for leaving Rays.  1 million Rays paid on buy out, 13 MARLINS will give , 1 million Bouns, 1 milllion for insentive to make guess apprence. Other teams would of had to pay 17.5 m total.  So Peter Fairbanks use the Florida tax system in his favor. Work for Marlins also.  

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I am solidly in the "meh" camp, although he will be put to use extensively. His 2025 total of 60 innings is the most Fairbanks has pitched in MLB.  Since Hernández pitched 73 last year, I think we can assume that Fairbanks will be asked to exceed his 2025 apex. Still, at $216,000 an inning (based on his career high innings of 60), it's not a deal. Fairbanks is not improving. My gut tells me he will collect his extra half-million, traded by the deadline. I think what we see is Marlins fans are happy literally with any signing, like a thirsty desert traveler, regardless of the contract, which is, of course, followed by the endless fan lament of "ok, that's a good start." Just sign someone! Some of this is reasonable and understandable in the context of the team's actions, but most of it is the conventional fan thinking that applies to every team. My second gut feeling is that the Marlins will regress in the division, with the Mets (counterintuitively) and the Braves rebounding, so Mr. Fairbanks will not be lonesome at the trade deadline. Of course, none of this would have happened if the team had only signed Williams, or Helsley, or Jansen, or O'Hearn, or...

[1993 fan from start]

There Lake Bachar who had 71 IP  who can maybe go 74 IP the most

Calvin Faucher: 15 saves and a 3.28 ERA in over 60 IP. 

But if Peter Fairbanks has more then his highest IP before trade deadline we can be sure he getting traded . As long as their no injures. But Marlins would need replacement at trade deadline. That also depends on how bad team doing..    Eward at trade deadline will be higher then now.

BUT 100% agree with you on IP  I always look at 65 IP as a Starting point.

But NAMES like O'Hearn don't matter. If  Not on Marlins plains. As I been told in past.

 

Marlins will regress in the division,  that mains that starting pitching will go done. and keep them from wild card .  they will fall in between 2024 and 2025 numbers . 2024 we had two Starters who where injure.  Bullpen up in the air. Cause two Rule 5 picks also.  If that the case we need to pick up a starter and bullpen guy.   Not talking Offense we know some will regress and some will step up.

 

[Slacker Mills]

On 12/25/2025 at 11:19 AM, Hippyboi said:

I like the signing, but sadly a break even with losing Henriquez.

I think Pauley may surprise, but Morel at 1st is worrisome

Is there anyone out there that thinks Morel is an upgrade over Johnston (former Marlin)? I don't understand.