A top closer is hitting the market.
The Tampa Bay Rays declined their $11 million team option on hard-throwing reliever Pete Fairbanks, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Thursday.
Fairbanks, 31, has spent nearly all of his seven-year career with the Rays after a brief rookie stint with the Texas Rangers in 2019.
The righty recorded 27 saves last season on the strength of a 2.83 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 60.1 innings.
Over 275 career appearances, Fairbanks holds a 3.19 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He has 90 career saves, including at least 23 in each of the last three seasons.
Now, he joins a deep free-agent pitching class that also includes fellow closers Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez.
