The Dodgers’ bullpen was a sore spot down the stretch in 2025, and as the offseason heats up, it looks like they’re not chasing one of the biggest names on the relief market-Pete Fairbanks. Despite Fairbanks’ track record as a high-leverage arm with the Rays, there’s no indication the Dodgers are in the mix for the hard-throwing right-hander.
Fairbanks has quietly built a strong résumé since joining Tampa Bay in 2019. He notched a career-best 27 saves last season and posted a 2.83 ERA-his fourth season finishing under the 3.00 mark.
In an AL East packed with tough lineups, that’s no small feat. He’s shown the kind of consistency and poise you want in a ninth-inning guy, which makes it all the more notable that the Dodgers don’t appear to be pursuing him.
But this isn’t just about who the Dodgers aren’t targeting-it’s also about who they already have. Tanner Scott, the lefty LA signed to a four-year, $72 million deal before the 2025 season, had a rocky debut campaign in Dodger blue.
His command wavered, and his outings were often high-stress. Still, the front office isn’t pulling the plug.
General manager Brandon Gomes made it clear: the Dodgers are sticking with Scott and the rest of their bullpen crew, confident that the group can rebound in 2026.
“We have a ton of options,” Gomes said. “As we saw last season, different guys emerged as the year went on. We have a lot of guys we trust at the back end.”
That’s not just GM-speak. The Dodgers have leaned on a bullpen-by-committee approach in recent years, and while it didn’t always hold up in 2025, there’s a belief that the talent is there. Relievers are notoriously volatile year to year, and LA’s betting on positive regression.
Gomes pointed to Scott specifically, saying the team still sees him as a key figure in late-game situations.
“He certainly is one of the guys in that group,” Gomes said. “We’ve seen it before-relievers can have down years and bounce back in a big way. We fully believe Tanner’s going to come back strong and be right in the mix to pitch late in games.”
That belief will be tested early in 2026. If the Dodgers are passing on external reinforcements like Fairbanks, they’ll need internal answers to step up. The bullpen faltered when it mattered last season, and for a team with championship aspirations, that’s not a luxury they can afford again.
The front office is also keeping the door open to a six-man rotation next year, which could ease the load on the bullpen-but it also means the relievers they do rely on will need to be sharp. No matter how you slice it, the pressure’s on for the Dodgers’ bullpen to deliver.
They’re not chasing a big-name closer this winter. They’re betting on bounce-backs, depth, and a little bit of bullpen magic.