THREE-PEAT AMBITIONS: Dodgers Prioritize Bullpen Overhaul, Eyeing Ex-Rays Closer Pete Fairbanks as Key Target.vc
LOS ANGELES, CA — As the Los Angeles Dodgers officially gear up for the MLB offseason, their top priority has become crystal clear: rebuilding a bullpen that, for much of the past season, was considered the team’s most massive weakness. Though the relief corps miraculously managed to stabilize before the playoffs, contributing to their back-to-back World Series title, the front office understands they cannot rely on a repeat performance for their ambitious three-peat attempt.
The Dodgers’ previous attempt to shore up the bullpen—signing left-hander Tanner Scott to a large deal last offseason—backfired spectacularly in year one, with Scott struggling with inconsistency and failing to make the postseason roster. This history has long made the front office wary of committing big money to relievers, but the current “all-in” philosophy means aggressive action is expected.
Fairbanks Emerges as the Ideal Free Agent Target
While the Dodgers have the capital and trade assets to pursue any option, the free-agent market presents a compelling, high-upside opportunity in veteran right-hander Pete Fairbanks.
Fairbanks, who spent last season anchoring the Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen, was made a free agent after the Rays declined his option—a decision widely viewed as a “head-scratching” surprise across baseball.
- Elite Performance: Fairbanks posted a strong $2.83$ ERA over 63 appearances for the Rays in 2025, recording 27 saves. His success has been a major factor in Tampa Bay’s perennial competitiveness.
- The Price vs. Value: The veteran was only due $\$11$ million, making the Rays’ move strange and offering a significant potential benefit to the Dodgers. Fairbanks is the kind of shut-down reliever the team desperately missed all year.
Tandem Trouble: The Scott-Fairbanks Vision
Landing Pete Fairbanks would provide Dodgers manager Dave Roberts with a versatile and reliable closing option. Furthermore, the front office is hopeful that Tanner Scott can experience a bounce-back season.
If Scott can return to form, the Dodgers could use the two pitchers in tandem, leveraging their opposite-side pitching angles to create matchup nightmares for opponents in high-leverage innings. The strategy aligns perfectly with the Dodgers’ historical success of picking up high-potential, undervalued players like Fairbanks and developing them into gems.
Addressing the bullpen now, rather than waiting for the trade deadline, seems to be the firm plan in place for Los Angeles. Securing Fairbanks could be the final defensive piece needed to completely shore up the relief corps moving forward.
