Top 3 trade targets for the Pittsburgh Pirates entering 2024-25 offseason

Pete Fairbanks

Pete Fairbanks has been a stalwart in the Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen during the 2020s. He has consistently posted quality numbers since he was sent to the Rays, and 2024 was no different. Fairbanks had a 3.57 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 1.17 WHIP in 45.1 innings of work. He worked as the Rays' ninth-inning man, saving 23 games.

Fairbanks had some solid peripherals last season as well. He struck out batters at an above-average 23.8% rate, albeit with a 9.2% walk rate. He also was good at limiting home runs. Fairbanks had an HR/9 rate of 0.79 while inducing grounders 43.4% of the time. The right-hander's exit velocity was 89.1 MPH, but his barrel rate was an elite 5.6%. Stuff+ pinned Fairbanks at a strong 122.

Still, there were some red flags in his numbers. Fairbanks' K% was solid, but a far departure from his career norms. From 2020 through 2023, he struck out over a third of opponents with a 34.8% K%. He was also more prone to poor contact in 2024. His exit velocity and barrel rate between those four seasons were 87.6 MPH and 4.8%, respectively. His Stuff+ rating also fell from 133 in '20-'23.

Notably, Fairbanks also suffers from Raynaud's syndrome, a nerve condition that results in numbness in his extremities during cold weather. He has thrived in Tampa, but joining a climate like Pittsburgh's could present unforeseen issues, especially during October.

Fairbanks has two years of control left. He is owed just under $3.7 million this year and has a club option worth $7 million for 2026. It's always scary to trade with the Rays, but the Pirates need relievers, and Fairbanks is one of the better ones who could be available in trade. MLB Trade Rumors lists him as the seventh-best offseason trade candidate.