Pete Fairbanks isn’t just looking for a new home—he may already have one in mind. As the Chicago Cubs surge to the top of the National League Central, their path to postseason glory may run straight through Tampa Bay, and more specifically, through the electric right arm of the Rays’ veteran closer.
With the Cubs entering Thursday boasting a 26–17 record and tied for second in Major League Baseball in total runs scored (227), the offense has done more than its fair share of heavy lifting. But for a team with October ambitions, their Achilles’ heel is glaring: the bullpen.
The Cubs’ relief corps ranks 22nd in MLB in ERA at 4.59, and 28th in WHIP (1.51), with late-game leads vanishing all too often. In stark contrast, Pete Fairbanks, the Rays’ 31-year-old closer, continues to prove he’s among the league’s elite. He’s logged 8 saves in just 18 appearances this season, with a 2.65 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and zero home runs allowed—something no reliever in Chicago’s bullpen can currently claim.
A Mutual Need – and a Mutual Fit
Sources close to Fairbanks suggest that if the Rays decide to become sellers at the trade deadline—as they might, sitting in fourth place in the AL East and watching the Yankees run away with the division—Chicago is the only team on the closer’s radar.
“Pete knows what’s at stake,” one insider familiar with the situation said. “He’s entering a critical phase in his career and wants to close for a contender. The Cubs check every box—offense, opportunity, market size. There really is no better fit.”
Why the Cubs Make Sense
Fairbanks isn’t just looking for a role; he’s looking for relevance. And in Chicago, he’d be stepping into a vacuum—the Cubs have no reliable closer, with Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather combining for just 9 saves and an ERA north of 5.00. Meanwhile, the bullpen has already surrendered 15 home runs through mid-May.
Compare that to Fairbanks, who has not only yet to give up a long ball in 2025, but also held opposing hitters to a paltry .192 batting average last season.
Furthermore, Fairbanks’ underlying metrics remain elite:
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Strikeout rate: 30.2%
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Barrel rate: 2.8%
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Opposing OPS: .540
Those are shutdown numbers—especially valuable for a Cubs team with a +39 run differential but a tendency to let late leads slip.
Rays Ready to Deal?
With the Yankees off to a blistering start and the Orioles and Blue Jays staying competitive, the Rays—five games under .500—could be facing a midseason pivot. Fairbanks is in the final guaranteed year of his deal, though he carries a $7.5 million team option for 2026—a reasonable price for a top-tier closer.
If the Rays believe their window is closing, they might look to move Fairbanks for younger arms or prospects. Chicago has the assets, including reliever-heavy prospects like Michael Arias and Ben Brown, who could appeal to Tampa Bay’s player development system.
Cubs Front Office Weighs In
While no official deal is imminent, Cubs President Jed Hoyer didn’t shy away from addressing the need for bullpen reinforcement this week.
“We’re always evaluating ways to improve this roster, especially with how competitive this division is. We love where we’re at offensively, but it’s no secret that we need to tighten things up in the late innings,” Hoyer said Tuesday.
Pressed specifically about Fairbanks, Hoyer smiled and said, “We respect what he’s done in Tampa. We’re aware of what he could bring to any team.”
A Deal That Feels Inevitable?
The stars seem to be aligning. Fairbanks wants to win. The Cubs need someone who can help them do exactly that. And as the trade deadline creeps closer, the marriage between the two feels less speculative and more inevitable.
In a market where many contenders already have established closers, Chicago may be Fairbanks’ only real shot at both a starring role and a legitimate postseason run. For the Cubs, he may be the final piece to a championship puzzle that’s beginning to take shape.
As July approaches, it may simply come down to this: Cubs or no one.