"Fairbanks' three-year, $12MM extension with Tampa Bay contained a $7MM club option for the 2026 season, but he's boosted that option's value considerably. Fairbanks already triggered $1.5MM in escalators based on his total appearances in the first three seasons of the deal, and he's maxed out a set of escalators based on his number of games finished in 2025, tacking another $2MM onto the option price."
"His option at this moment is valued at $10.5MM, but if he appears in even two more games this year, he'll boost his 2023-25 appearance count to 150, adding another $1MM to its value. If he appears in seven of Tampa Bay's final 22 games, he'll bump his 2025 appearance total to 60 and add yet another $1MM escalator onto the deal. A $12.5MM salary for a reliever is steep for the Rays, but Fairbanks has pitched a career-high 52 1/3 innings and logged a 3.10 ERA, 25.2% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate en route to 24 saves."
The final weeks of the 2025 season trigger vesting clauses and performance incentives tied to plate appearances, innings pitched, games finished, and other metrics. Several club and mutual options carry escalators that can alter salaries for 2026 and affect roster decisions. Nine specific options warrant attention for near-term financial ramifications and opportunities for players rehabbing or auditioning in September. Fairbanks' three-year, $12MM deal with Tampa Bay contains a $7MM club option that has been boosted by escalators tied to appearances and games finished, currently valued at $10.5MM and capable of rising with additional appearances. He has pitched 52 1/3 innings with a 3.10 ERA, 25.2% strikeout rate, 7% walk rate and 24 saves, making a reliever salary in the $11.5MM–$12.5MM range substantial but performance-based.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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