Cleavinger, Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Rays elected to decline Pete Fairbanks' $11 million option, and the plan for now is to fill that ninth-inning vacancy with multiple players. Cleavinger had the best season of his career in 2025, holding a 2.35 ERA and 82:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings. The lefty has neutral splits, so he should not be at a matchup disadvantage when it comes to who manager Kevin Cash chooses to deploy in save situations.

Cleavinger picked up the save Tuesday against Seattle, throwing a perfect inning with zero strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Griffin Jax began the ninth inning, but after yielding a pair of walks and a single to the first three batters he faced, Tampa Bay turned to Cleavinger with the bases loaded and no outs. Cleavinger did surrender a sacrifice fly, with the run being attributed to Jax, but didn't allow the Mariners to complete the comeback. Now with two saves on the season, Cleavinger has an impressive 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 18 straight innings.

Cleavinger (0-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth inning to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 10 innings in June and began July with two scoreless outings. He didn't have his best stuff Saturday, however, as he allowed a walk and two singles -- the latter of which was a bunt -- to allow a walk-off win for the Twins.

Cleavinger (0-1) allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two across 0.2 innings to take the loss Friday against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger has been one of the Rays' most reliable high-leverage relievers this season, and he's maintained an impressive 27:4 K:BB across 21.1 frames while turning in a scoreless effort in 17 of 23 appearances. He stumbled Friday, however, allowing a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning after striking out the first two batters he faced to take his first loss of the campaign.

Cleavinger picked up the save Friday against the Padres after tossing a clean ninth inning, striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

With closer Pete Fairbanks having worked each of the past two days, Cleavinger was called upon to slam the door and protect a 1-0 lead. The left-hander earned his first save of the year after throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, and he now sports a 2.53 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. Cleavinger is one of Tampa Bay's top left-handed relievers, but his save opportunities are likely to remain scarce while Fairbanks is healthy.

The Rays and Cleavinger avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger gets a well-earned raise after putting up a 3.75 ERA and 71:31 K:BB over 60 innings during 2024 in his first year back from knee surgery. The left-handed reliever will be in line for high-leverage work again with the Rays in 2025.

Cleavinger earned a save against the Red Sox on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger threw 15 of 19 pitches for strikes and recorded multiple punchouts for the first time since Aug. 14. The save was his second of September and his sixth overall this season. The last three Rays saves have been claimed by three different relievers, so it's clear that the team prefers a committee approach to the closer role.

Cleavinger earned the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Twins, retiring the lone batter he faced in the ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Edwin Uceta originally got the call in the ninth inning, but he allowed a pair of singles to put the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. Cleavinger was then called upon with two outs to face Christian Vasquez, who he'd retire on just two pitches. It's the fifth save this year for Cleavinger, who had allowed five runs over his last three appearances (2.2 innings) coming into Tuesday. While Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez have been the Rays' top ninth-inning options in the absence of Pete Fairbanks (lat), the left-handed Cleavinger could see the occasional matchup-dependant save opportunity going forward.

Cleavinger picked up the save in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Dodgers, surrendering one unearned run over one inning while not allowing any hits or walks.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger got the call with a two-run lead in the bottom of the 10th and retired Shohei Ohtani in the first at-bat via fly out, though Miguel Rojas was able to advance to third after tagging up. The left-handed reliever would then see Rojas come home on a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts before getting Freddie Freeman to ground out for the final out of the contest. It marked Cleavinger's fourth save of the campaign and his first since May 18 against Toronto. He still appears to be third in line for save opportunities with Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list due to a lat strain, behind Manuel Rodriguez, who got the win Saturday, and Edwin Uceta.

Cleavinger (7-2) struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win Sunday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Cleavinger entered with the Rays down 1-0 in the eighth inning and turned in his fifth consecutive clean outing. He's also picked up two wins in that span and should be locked into a high-leverage relief role after the departure of Jason Adam.