Realistic Option for Braves? Pete Fairbanks Emerges as Quality “Plan B” if Raisel Iglesias Leaves.vc
The Rays declined Fairbanks’ $11M option, making the 32-year-old a top target as the Braves look to replace their free-agent closer.
ATLANTA — Raisel Iglesias is a free agent, meaning the Atlanta Braves could be in need of a new closer. While they’re reportedly going to be in the hunt to re-sign him, there are no guarantees that they’ll win out.
Bringing him back should be “Plan A” for this team. Iglesias, apart from a rough patch early in 2025, has been nails for this team for multiple seasons. Anything else should be “Plan B.”
A new closer that is now set to hit the market could make for a quality Plan B.
Welcome to Atlanta Braves on SI‘s offseason series, “Realistic Option for Braves?” where we evaluate if a free agent could realistically choose Atlanta this winter.
The Candidate: Pete Fairbanks
The Tampa Bay Rays opted to decline their $11 million club option on their closer, Pete Fairbanks, on Thursday. The new ownership is choosing to go a different direction. At the very least, the choice was financial and not due to performance.
- 2025 Stats (61 games): 2.83 ERA, 27 saves, 1.04 WHIP, 145 ERA+, 59 K in 60.1 IP.
- Recent Performance: He went through a bit of a rough patch over the summer but settled back in to finish the season with seven straight scoreless outings.
Why Fairbanks is a “Strong Candidate”
Fairbanks, who will be 32 by the time next season rolls around, would provide an option who is a few years younger than Iglesias and potentially around the same price.
- Projected Market Value (via Spotrac): 3 years, $41.4 million ($13.8M AAV)
It’s a modest increase from what he would have earned during his club option, but still a notch lower than what Iglesias had been paid ($16 million). Since he’s a few years younger, it would be easier for the Braves to take on a multi-year commitment. When they acquired Iglesias from the Angels in 2022, he was the same age Fairbanks will be in 2026. It lines up in a similar way.
Discussing this next point gets a little repetitive, but there’s a reason for mentioning it. He’s not a Boras client, whom the Braves tend to shy away from. That helps make Fairbanks a strong candidate to be signed.
The Verdict
Assuming the Braves intend to be bigger spenders this offseason, Fairbanks is more than a realistic option. He’s in a reasonable price range, and he would provide them a quality closer if they miss out on bringing back Iglesias.
To take it a step further, maybe the Braves could consider signing him, even if they do bring back their closer. They let go of Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley and could use more veteran reliever depth. Maybe that money could go to signing an arm like Fairbanks.
There are many possibilities as to how this offseason could play out. Even if they don’t necessarily make the biggest of splashes, there are solid options that could be Atlanta-bound before the spring arrives.
