With a new year now kicking off and the start of Spring Training fast approaching, there are still some notable free agents without a team for the 2025 season. The group includes Tanner Scott, who is the top left-handed relief pitcher on the market.
Scott is coming off an excellent season with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres that saw him post a combined 1.75 ERA, 2.92 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in 72 innings. It was the second consecutive year he recorded an ERA below 2.35 with at least 70 innings pitched.
Scott has been projected by multiple outlets to receive a multi-year contract with an average annual salary of around $15 million.
According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, Scott is seeking $80 million over four years, via “The Fenway Rundown” podcast:
“I had somebody from a National League tell me last week that Scott was looking for four (years) times 20 (million).”
To this point in free agency, the market has been trending toward players beating their projected deals, so Scott may very well come in with a higher total value.
The 30-year-old has received interest from several teams this offseason, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, who looked into acquiring Scott at this year’s trade deadline before the Padres acquired him.
The interest is said to be mutual, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the sides eventually agree to terms on a deal.
The Dodgers already have a strong bullpen on paper, but clearly want to add another high-leverage relief pitcher to the mix. The club nearly completed a trade for Devin Williams last month before the Milwaukee Brewers sent him to the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers have aleady re-signed Blake Treinen to a two-year, $22 million contract and also added several arms on Minor League deals, including Giovanny Gallegos.
How Tanner Scott fits in Dodgers bullpen
If the Dodgers sign Scott, he would join a bullpen that includes high-leverage options in Treinen, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
Signing Scott would also mean Shohei Ohtani not having to face the effective southpaw, and give the Dodgers another option to throw at Juan Soto if they were to face the New York Mets in the postseason once again.
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