2026 Rays Closer Replacement: Top Candidates to Shore Up Bullpen

The Tampa Bay Rays are facing a familiar challenge: replacing a proven closer without breaking the bank. After declining Pete Fairbanks’ $11 million option, they watched him sign a one-year, $13 million deal with the Miami Marlins.

Now, Tampa Bay has to figure out who finishes games in 2026. With no obvious external addition on the horizon, they seem ready to lean on their deep bullpen and strong development system to fill the gap.

Tampa Bay Moves On From Pete Fairbanks

Fairbanks’ departure closes out a successful run in the Rays’ bullpen. Since taking over as the full-time closer in 2023, he turned into one of the most reliable ninth-inning arms the franchise has ever had.

Over three seasons, Fairbanks tallied 75 saves and ended his Rays tenure with 90 total, putting him third all-time for the club. Even with that production, Tampa Bay stuck to its usual payroll philosophy and chose not to commit eight figures annually.

A Familiar Rays Blueprint

This move shows how the Rays operate. Instead of paying market value for relievers in their 30s, the front office trusts its knack for developing the next closer from within.

They’ve always been comfortable with risk, especially when several capable arms are in the mix. It’s a bit of a gamble, but that’s just how they roll.

Edwin Uceta: The In-House Favorite?

If you’re looking for an early favorite to take over, Edwin Uceta could be the guy. He quietly became a workhorse in the Rays bullpen last season.

Uceta led all Tampa Bay relievers with 76 innings. He also tied for the team lead with 21 holds.

His swing-and-miss stuff is legit, too. That 15.5% career swinging-strike rate fits the modern closer profile better than most.

The Home Run Concern

There’s a red flag with Uceta, though: contact quality. He gave up 11 home runs in 2025 and had a worrying tendency to allow pulled fly balls.

In high-leverage ninth-inning spots, that tendency to surrender long balls could become a bigger problem. You have to wonder if it’ll hold him back.

Griffin Jax: Experience With a Caveat

Griffin Jax brings something most Rays relievers don’t have: actual closing experience. Acquired at the trade deadline, Jax has the pitch mix and poise you want in late innings.

But his transition to Tampa Bay was rocky. He allowed multiple home runs soon after arriving, and that raised questions about his fit in high-leverage roles.

A Strong Finish, But Questions Remain

Jax ended the season with 10 scoreless outings. Still, most of those came in lower-leverage spots, so it’s hard to know if the Rays really trust him in the ninth.

Other Internal Options to Watch

The Rays’ bullpen depth means there are plenty of alternatives, even if none are perfect.

• Garrett Cleavinger: The main left-handed setup man with 21 holds. As the only lefty on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay might use him situationally.
• Bryan Baker: Saw a 32.5% strikeout spike thanks to more changeups, but gave up a lot of barrels and hard contact.
• Hunter Bigge: Brings electric velocity and a nasty slider. His 2025 season got cut short by a lat strain and severe facial fractures from a foul ball.

Bigge’s Long-Term Outlook

Bigge still intrigues after dominating Triple-A, but his recovery timeline is murky. Realistically, he looks more like a 2027 closer candidate than an immediate answer.

Rays Trust Development Over Dollars

Replacing Pete Fairbanks won’t be easy. The Rays have built a reputation on doing just that.

They’ve got several internal candidates, each bringing a mix of upside and risk. Tampa Bay will probably mix and match early before picking a ninth-inning option.

In true Rays fashion, the next closer isn’t obvious right now. Still, history says someone will step up, shaped by one of baseball’s best reliever pipelines.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Finding The Rays’ Closer Replacement