The Atlanta Braves are staring down an offseason that’ll define their immediate future. After missing the playoffs, they need to get back to contending – and that starts with finding a closer to replace Raisel Iglesias, who’s hitting free agency.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller thinks the Braves shouldn’t look inward for answers. Instead, he’s got them targeting Pete Fairbanks from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Makes sense when you consider what they’re working with internally.
“Over the past three seasons, Raisel Iglesias saved 96 games for Atlanta. Now that he’s a free agent, though, the ninth inning is a big question mark. Joe Jiménez after he missed all of 2025 due to knee surgery? Pierce Johnson with 16 career saves, most of which came while posting a 6.00 ERA with the Rockies in 2023? Moving Reynaldo López back to the bullpen to mitigate injury risk? Trading for an established closer sounds better than any of those options.”
That’s a pretty stark assessment, but it’s hard to argue with the logic. Joe Jiménez is coming off knee surgery that cost him the entire season. Pierce Johnson doesn’t exactly scream “ninth-inning guy” with his track record. And moving Reynaldo López back to relief feels like taking a step backward after his success in the rotation.
Fairbanks put together another solid season for Tampa Bay. He posted a 2.83 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 27 saves across 61 appearances. His 1.044 WHIP shows he’s not just getting by on luck either.
What makes this particularly attractive for Atlanta is the timing. Fairbanks is in his final year of arbitration and projected to earn around $12.5 million. That’s essentially a one-year rental with options.
If the Braves like what they see, they can talk extension. If it doesn’t work out, he walks after the season and they’re not stuck with a long-term commitment. It’s the kind of calculated risk that makes sense for a team trying to get back into contention without mortgaging the future.
The Rays, meanwhile, have a history of moving veteran relievers when they can maximize return. They’re always looking to restock the system, and a team like Atlanta has the prospect depth to make a deal work.
The Braves better move quickly though. Established closers don’t stay on the trade market long, and there are plenty of contenders who could use bullpen help. Fairbanks has the track record and the stuff to be a difference-maker for whoever lands him.
All things considered, it’s exactly the type of move Atlanta needs to make if they’re serious about getting back to October.
