Fairbanks and the Marlins agreed Wednesday on a one-year, $13 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tampa Bay declined Fairbanks' $11 million club option for 2026 earlier this offseason, but the reliever ended up securing an extra $2 million after hitting the open market. The deal also includes a $1 million signing bonus and another $1 million in appearance-based incentives, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Marlins took a committee approach to the closer position in 2025, but Fairbanks' contract should give him some security as the Marlins' preferred ninth-inning man heading into spring training. Though staying healthy has often been an issue for Fairbanks throughout his career, he continued to pitch effectively in his age-31 season in 2025, logging a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB while converting 27 of 32 save chances across 60.1 innings with the Rays.

The Rays declined Fairbanks' $11 million club option for 2026 on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks will receive a $1 million buyout from the Rays instead and look to the free-agent market for his next opportunity. The 31-year-old right-hander delivered one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 60.1 innings while collecting a career-high 27 saves. His reliability in high-leverage situations should attract plenty of interest in free agency.

Fairbanks earned the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Called upon to protect a one-run lead, the right-hander locked down his 27th save of the season with ease, continuing his bounce-back form after a rocky stretch in which he allowed six earned runs over seven appearances. Since then, Fairbanks has gone four straight outings without allowing a hit, converting three saves in that span. The 31-year-old now sports a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 57.1 innings this season.

Fairbanks earned a save against the Cubs on Saturday, issuing two walks and striking out two batters over a scoreless and hitless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks inherited a one-run lead when he entered in the ninth inning and immediately got into trouble when he walked the first two batters he faced. The right-hander unleashed a wild pitch on the second free pass, putting the tying run on third base with nobody out. However, Fairbanks was able to recover by inducing a fielder's choice groundout followed by two punchouts. Though he's successfully converted each of his past four save chances, Fairbanks has been a bit unsteady of late, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters across his past six appearances spanning six innings.

Fairbanks picked up the save Tuesday against the White Sox, throwing a perfect ninth inning. He did not record a strikekout.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks snapped a streak of five consecutive outings allowing at least one hit. During that stretch, he surrendered four runs on nine hits, including three home runs, with eight strikeouts across five innings. Wednesday's save was Fairbanks' 25th of the campaign, tying his most saves in a season during his seven-year career. He has a 3.15 ERA in 54.1 innings this season.

Fairbanks (4-5) allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Saturday against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 2-2. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, which was enough for the Guardians to push across one run. While Fairbanks wasn't hit particularly hard, he has a 4.15 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing at least one earned run in six of his last 17 appearances.

Fairbanks allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out one across one inning Thursday against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks entered the game in the ninth inning with a four-run lead and gave up home runs to the first two batters he faced. He settled in to help the Rays secure the win, but his performance has been a mixed bag lately. Fairbanks has an impressive 23:0 K:BB across his last 16.1 innings, but he's allowed six home runs (3.3 HR/9) in that span.

Fairbanks allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save over the Nationals on Sunday. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Fairbanks worked around a pair of singles to escape unscathed in the 7-4 victory. He converted both of his save chances against Washington this weekend, but he's shown some shakiness lately; Fairbanks has given up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over his last five frames. Still, he owns a strong 2.81 ERA and 53:15 K:BB while converting 24 of his 29 save chances through 52 appearances.

Fairbanks gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 23rd save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

After blowing his fifth save of the season Wednesday, Fairbanks shook it off and fired 15 of 22 pitches for strikes in Friday's successful conversion. The right-hander has a 2.70 ERA in 10 August innings thanks to three home runs allowed, but he's otherwise been dominant with a 0.80 WHIP and 17:0 K:BB.

Fairbanks was charged with his fifth blown save of the season in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Guardians, giving up one run on one hit in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Brought in to protect a 3-2 lead, Fairbanks instead served up a game-tying homer to improbable hero Nolan Jones, who came into Wednesday mired in a 53-game power drought, with his last long ball having come June 13. Fairbanks has coughed up just five home runs on the season, but four of them have come in his last 10 appearances -- a stretch in which he's gone 4-for-6 in converting save chances.