MLB insider: Tampa Bay Rays agree to 3-year deal with Pete Fairbanks

The Tampa Bay Rays just bolstered their bullpen, agreeing to a 3-year extension with talented right-hander Pete Fairbanks.

Right-handed pitcher Pete Fairbanks and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a three-year, $12 million contract extension that includes an option for a fourth season, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Fairbanks has pitched just 105.2 innings in 111 appearances for the Rays over the past three seasons. His numbers were very strong last season — a 1.13 ERA and 0.667 WHIP — but injuries kept him off the mound for more than 24 innings. He has undergone Tommy John surgery twice.

There may be more moves coming for the Tampa Bay Rays

The deal comes on the heels of the Rays signing pitcher Jeffrey Springs to a four-year, $31 million contract extension. The Rays had a league-high seven players not settle to avoid arbitration and were viewed in league circles as strong contenders to sign multiple players to multi-year pacts.

With Fairbanks and Springs signed for at least the next three years, the Rays have accomplished just that. But they may not be done. President of baseball operations Erik Neander and general manager Peter Bendix remain active in exploring extensions with other players, league sources say.