The Philadelphia Phillies boast an impressive roster. Their rotation is anchored by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, one of the top duos in baseball, though Nola has struggled this season and is currently sidelined with an injury. Offensively, the lineup features stars like Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Schwarber.
Despite all this talent, the team has yet to secure a World Series title with this core group. As a result, Jeff Passan has proposed that the Phillies consider trading for Tampa Bay Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks to strengthen their bullpen. But what might a Fairbanks-to-Philadelphia trade actually look like?
Phillies’ trade proposal for Pete Fairbanks
Phillies acquire: Pete Fairbanks
Rays acquire: Justin Crawford (MLB No. 56), Devin Saltiban (Phillies No. 9)
The Phillies, currently 37-23 and just a half-game behind the Mets in the NL East, have found success this season in spite of their bullpen, not because of it. Their relief corps has been among the worst in baseball, with only Jose Alvarado — out of six relievers with at least 20 innings — posting an ERA under 3.00.
That issue became even more pressing after Alvarado received an 80-game suspension for PED use, rendering him ineligible for the postseason. Jordan Romano has since stepped into the closer role and has shown improvement, but Philadelphia still needs a major upgrade.
Pete Fairbanks, one of the top closers in the league, owns a 1.96 ERA this season. With the Rays possibly entering seller mode again, Fairbanks could be a prime target. While the Phillies likely won’t stop with just one bullpen move, Fairbanks would be a significant addition due to his ability to handle high-pressure situations — something that will be essential in the tightly contested National League race.
Even with bullpen reinforcements, the Phillies’ relief pitching may still lag behind their potent offense. Still, if they can make meaningful improvements in late-inning relief, this might finally be their year to capture a World Series title.
Would the Rays trade Pete Fairbanks?
The Rays currently sit at 31-29, and it’s uncommon for teams with a winning record to make significant moves this early in the season. However, Tampa Bay doesn’t follow the typical playbook. They’re known for frequently switching between buying and selling, largely because they tend to avoid handing out large contracts.
At the moment, the Rays appear more inclined to sell. The AL East is arguably the toughest division in baseball, and with the Yankees well ahead, and the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and surging Orioles all presenting stiff competition, Tampa’s postseason path looks difficult.
The Rays have a strong track record of identifying and developing young talent. If there are prospects in Philadelphia’s farm system that appeal to them, they might be open to trading Pete Fairbanks. Andrew Painter is likely off-limits given his elite prospect status, but Justin Crawford—also a top-100 prospect and already in Triple-A—could be of interest.
Crawford may be on the verge of a big-league debut, while Fairbanks is under team control for just one more year before hitting free agency. Although Rays fans are often frustrated by the team’s trade decisions, dealing Fairbanks wouldn’t be a shock.
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