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Tampa Bay has found consistent closing relief elusive for years. As 2015, the Rays have cycled through seven different players leading the team in saves, a testament to the difficulty of finding a reliable arm at the back end of the bullpen.
A New Chapter: Fairbanks’ Departure and the Search for a closer
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The Rays face a critical decision after allowing their most consistent closer in recent memory to hit free agency.
- Pete Fairbanks established himself as Tampa Bay’s full-time closer in 2023, racking up 75 saves over the past three seasons.
- The Rays declined Fairbanks’ $11 million option and he subsequently signed with the Miami Marlins on Christmas Eve.
- Edwin Uceta, Griffin Jax, Bryan Baker, and Hunter Bigge are among the potential candidates to replace Fairbanks.
- Tampa Bay has a history of developing relievers internally, suggesting the next closer may already be in the organization.
That changed in 2023 when Pete Fairbanks took the reins as the team’s primary closer. Fairbanks recorded 75 saves over the last three seasons and ranked third in franchise history with 90 total saves. He was poised to surpass Alex Colome (95) and Roberto Hernandez (101), but Tampa Bay declined his $11 million option, allowing him to become a free agent. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Marlins on December 24.
Now, the Rays must fill the void left by Fairbanks. Given the organization’s reluctance to meet his price, the next closer will likely emerge from within the current roster. Tampa Bay has a well-earned reputation for developing effective relievers, and Fairbanks himself is a product of that system.
Edwin Uceta: The Experienced Option
Edwin Uceta was Fairbanks’ primary setup man in 2025, leading the bullpen with 76 innings pitched and sharing the team lead with 21 holds. While he only recorded one save last season, Uceta previously served as the closer when Fairbanks was unavailable in 2024, earning the first five saves of his MLB career.
Uceta possesses the tools to succeed in a closing role. His fastball,changeup,and cutter all generated a whiff rate above 30% last season. He also posted a solid 3.42 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 76 innings. Though, Uceta’s biggest challenge will be consistency. He has struggled with control at times,walking 4.1 batters per nine innings.
Griffin Jax: The Power Arm
Griffin Jax is a hard-throwing right-hander who has shown flashes of dominance. He boasts a fastball that averages 97 mph and a slider with excellent movement. Jax finished 2025 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 62.1 innings, striking out 32.8% of the batters he faced.
Despite his impressive stuff,jax has yet to establish himself as a high-leverage reliever. He has struggled with command, issuing 4.0 walks per nine innings. If jax can refine his control, he has the potential to become a dominant closer.
