ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays declined an $11 million option on Pete Fairbanks, allowing their closer to become a free agent, while exercising an $11.5 million option Thursday on Brandon Lowe.
Fairbanks, a right-hander who turns 32 next month, gets a $1 million buyout.
He was 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 27 saves in 32 chances this year and has 75 saves over the past three seasons. Fairbanks agreed to a $12 million, three-year contract ahead of the 2023 season.
Lowe, a 31-year-old second baseman and first baseman, hit .256 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs this year.
He agreed in 2019 to a $24 million, six-year contract that included a $10.5 million option for 2025 that was exercised. Lowe would have received a $500,000 buyout if the option had been declined.
In addition, the Rays exercised a $2.45 million option on infielder Taylor Walls, who had a $50,000 buyout as part of the deal, which paid a $1.35 million salary this year. The Rays added a $3.1 million club option for 2027.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe watches his RBI single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt during the second inning of a baseball game Sept. 18, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sept. 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
VIENNA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 7, 2025--
AOP Health continues to advance its clinical research program in myeloproliferative neoplasms, a special group of rare blood cancers. The company, specialized in rare diseases, presented the results of two scientific investigations at the 67 th American Society of Hematology Association (ASH) Annual Meeting 2025 held in Orlando, FL, USA. The results provide new insights in treatment strategies.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251207587915/en/
ROP-ET and BESREMI PASS
One of the clinical studies, ROP-ET, examined the use of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in people with essential thrombocythemia (ET), a disease in which the body produces too many platelets. The trial, a prospective, multicenter, single-arm phase III study, investigated the safety and efficacy of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in ET patients unable to receive available cytoreductive therapies 1.
The other investigation, the BESREMi-PASS study, looked at how the medicine performs in everyday clinical practice among people with polycythemia vera (PV). PV is a rare cancer of the blood-building stem cells in the bone marrow resulting in a chronic increase of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Solutions for unmet medical need
Both studies provide new insights into how ropeginterferon alfa-2b may help people living with these chronic blood cancers.
Martin Steinhart, CEO of AOP Health, concludes: “AOP Health was founded to address unmet patient needs in rare indications. Our continued investment in research and development is a testament to that commitment, resulting in new findings that we are now proud to share with the scientific community at ASH.”
About Ropeginterferon alfa-2b
Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is the first interferon approved for polycythemia vera, a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), indicated in the European Union as monotherapy in adults for treatment of polycythaemia vera without symptomatic enlarged spleen.
Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a long-acting, mono-pegylated proline interferon (ATC L03AB15). It is administered once every 2 weeks initially, or up to every 4 weeks after stabilization of blood values. It is designed to be self-administered subcutaneously with a pre-filled pen.
About AOP Health
AOP Health is a global enterprise group with roots in Austria, where the headquarters of AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH ("AOP Health") is located. Since 1996, the AOP Health Group has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs, particularly in the fields of rare diseases and intensive care medicine. The group has established itself internationally as a pioneer in integrated therapy solutions and operates worldwide through subsidiaries, representations, and a strong network of partners. With the claim "Needs. Science. Trust." the AOP Health Group emphasizes its commitment to research and development, as well as the importance of building relationships with physicians and patient advocacy groups to ensure that the needs of these stakeholders are reflected in all aspects of the company’s actions. (aop-health.com)
1 Kiladjian JJ, Marin FF, Al-Ali HK, et al. ROP-ET: a prospective phase III trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in essential thrombocythemia patients with limited treatment options. Annals of Hematology. 2024 Mar 4:1-2.
Needs. Science. Trust.
AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH
Member of the AOP Health Group
Dr. Martin Steinhart, CEO AOP Health; Photo credit: AOP Health/Studio Koekart
