Division rival gifted Yankees perfect bullpen target with bizarre option decision

Fixing the bullpen needs to be a top priority for the New York Yankees, and this time, Brian Cashman needs to do a much better job than his trade deadline bullpen revamp. The unfortunate part was that, up until recently, the options were pretty slim.

Edwin Diaz is the top option, but his price tag would likely scare the Yankees away. Robert Suarez is the market's next best to choose from, but some contract predictions see him receiving almost as much as Diaz despite him being three years older and less dominant (even though he led the NL in saves).

After a sizable gap, you find veterans in their twilight like Kenley Jansen, a few intriguing setup men, and not much else. You don't have to look too far down the rankings to find Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, and there's no way the Yankees can seriously try to run it back and hope for better results the second time around.

The trade market was thought to present an intriguing solution in the form of Pete Fairbanks, but there was a problem. The fiery closer's status was controlled by the Tampa Bay Rays, who held an affordable $11 million option. The chance of an intra-division trade was slim, but the Yankees no longer need to worry about that, as Tampa shockingly decided to cut him loose.

The Rays give the Yankees a gift in more ways than one with surprising decision to decline Pete Fairbanks' option

Tampa was expected to pick up Fairbanks' option and then take advantage of his affordable salary and soft market for high-leverage relievers in what has become a Rays special — flipping proven veterans for young assets to continue to fuel their process.

In that way, this is a double win for the Yankees. Not only is Fairbanks on the table for them, but the Rays missed out on a chance to receive a real return.

Armed with a high-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, and the type of demeanor you love to see from a relief ace, Fairbanks now joins Diaz and Suarez as a third legitimate top-tier late-inning option in free agency.

With a 2.83 ERA and 332 strikeouts in 265 1/3 innings over the last four seasons, Fairbanks might not quite be at Diaz's level, but he's a dominant force in his own right who could either bump David Bednar to the eighth or set up for the Yankees' most reliable reliever.

Spotrac pegs his market value at three years, $41.3 million, which, if that's his actual price, the Yankees would be wise to waste no time and pounce on him immediately. More than likely, the bidding will drive that price higher, but it's worth noting that he'll likely come a decent amount cheaper than Diaz or Suarez.

Whatever the case is, Tampa's blunder has set the Yankees up to win regardless of where Fairbanks finally ends up.