The Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent right-handed reliever Brad Keller this week. The move gives some more depth for the Phillies in the bullpen, while also limiting the damage to the payroll. The two-year, $22 million deal is a reasonable commitment, and is also within the range of what the Phillies would normally spend on bullpen help.
Keller makes them better, but it also doesn't feel like the final piece of the puzzle for the bullpen. Pete Fairbanks, by all accounts, is the best remaining bullpen arm on the market. He could make the Phillies’ bullpen a slam dunk success this offseason, if they can reel him in. The Phillies did just commit $11 million in 2026 to Keller, but a new wrinkle suggests that the Phillies could still sign Fairbanks and stay within their budget.
The market could be favorable for the Phillies to take a stab at Pete Fairbanks
According to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Fairbanks' lingering presence on the market gives some credence to how he's being valued (subscription required). There were talks about Fairbanks being dealt from the Tampa Bay Rays before the end of the 2025 season, but Rosenthal believes the hiccup stemmed from his previous $11 million club option that the Rays declined after the season. Apparently, according to Rosenthal, “it appears unlikely he will command the $11 million salary the Rays declined to pay him on a one-year deal.”
Now, Fairbanks is fair game and the Phillies could be serious contenders for a top bullpen arm and create one of the most dynamic bullpens in MLB.
It's quite possible that the Phillies are done with doing additional signings, but you never know with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Just when it felt like nothing was going to come, Matt Strahm was shipped off to the Royals in a trade on Friday, offloading his $7.5 million vested option. That payroll being saved is massive, even with them acquiring another right-hander in the return for Strahm. Jonathan Bowlan is heading to Philadelphia, still under pre-arbitration and only costing the Phillies $820,000 in 2026. Fairbanks is still very much on the table.
Fairbanks, who just turned 32, is a top bullpen arm in baseball. He pitched to a 2.83 ERA in, 2025 with 59 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings, while setting a career-high in saves with 27. He does bring some injury history with him, as the most innings he amassed prior to 2025 was the 45 1/3 innings he pitched in both 2023 and 2024. Fairbanks was able to stay healthy this past season so that could be something for the Phillies to build on if they can sign him.
It would help the Phillies knowing they can come in with a potential lower off to get it done, and save themselves on the luxury tax as they approach another season with a payroll north of $300 million.
The Phillies' bullpen struggled in 2025, but bringing in Fairbanks would put the Phillies closer to an elite bullpen than they've had in a while. Pair him with Jhoan Duran, José Alvarado, Brad Keller, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and others and who says that can't be one of the strongest bullpens in 2026?