Fresh off the high-impact acquisition of starting pitcher Dylan Cease, the Toronto Blue Jays' front office is shifting its focus to the bullpen. General Manager Ross Atkins is reportedly targeting a significant upgrade in the late innings, with former Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks emerging as a key free-agent target.
Jays and Marlins in the Mix for Fairbanks
According to a report from Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic, citing industry sources, the Blue Jays are one of two prominent teams showing strong interest in Fairbanks. The Miami Marlins are also reportedly in the bidding for the right-handed reliever, who became a free agent after the Tampa Bay Rays declined his $11-million US player option following the 2025 season.
Fairbanks is coming off his best season as a closer, having recorded a career-high 27 saves with a 2.83 earned run average over 60 innings of work. His familiarity with the American League East makes him an attractive option for Toronto; in 28 career appearances against the Blue Jays, he has held their hitters to a minuscule 1.33 ERA.
What a Fairbanks Signing Means for Jeff Hoffman
The pursuit of Fairbanks raises questions about the role of current Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman, who took over the closer's duties after Jordan Romano was sidelined. Hoffman's 2025 season was a rollercoaster, culminating in a heartbreaking moment during the World Series. He surrendered a ninth-inning, game-tying home run to the Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas in Game 7, a loss he took full responsibility for.
When asked at his postseason press conference if Hoffman was the definitive closer for 2026, Atkins was non-committal. He praised Hoffman's team-first attitude, stating the pitcher would be "open to anything that makes us better." This suggests that if signed, Fairbanks could either assume the closer role or work in a high-leverage setup capacity alongside Hoffman, with roles being determined during spring training.
An Active Winter for the Blue Jays Continues
The reported interest in Fairbanks is part of a broader strategy to reinforce the bullpen. The Blue Jays have already been linked to several other top-tier relievers this offseason, including Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Raisel Iglesias, all of whom have since signed with other clubs.
This activity signals a clear intent from Atkins and the Toronto front office to build on their 2025 World Series appearance. The team's efforts are expected to intensify as baseball's Winter Meetings are set to begin next week in Orlando, Florida. Securing a proven late-inning arm like Pete Fairbanks would represent another major step in constructing a championship-caliber roster for the 2026 campaign.
