The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their bullpen by signing Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract that came as somewhat of a surprise after hefty investments into the group last winter.
The three-time All-Star brings stability to a relief corps that struggled with inconsistency throughout the entirety of 2025. He is set to become the team’s first dedicated closer since Kenley Jansen in 2021.
Tanner Scott was envisioned to take on that role when he signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers last offseason. However, the left-hander was hampered by injuries and went on to have the worst season of his career.
Scott finished 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 1.26 WHIP and an MLB-worst 10 blown saves in 57 innings across 61 appearances.
“I think if you’re talking about a place where we can improve, I still feel last year was an outlier year for Tanner Scott,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said.
“Not to say he needs to be a dedicated closer, but I feel he’s going to be much-improved next year. There were some things physically that he was dealing, some that were talked about, some that weren’t.
Scott missed a chunk of the second half because of left elbow inflammation and later had to undergo an unexpected abscess excision procedure on his backside that cost him the entire postseason.
“I just think there were some things he kept under wraps about his body,” Roberts added. “I think the transition to L.A. and anything that could go wrong, went wrong. I just feel he works his tail off, he’s too talented, and his track record was nothing like last year. So I just think it was an outlier of a season.”
In two seasons before joining the Dodgers, Scott pitched 150 innings with a 2.04 ERA, 2.53 FIP and 1.05 WHIP while striking out an elite 31.3% of hitters.
Dodgers expect Tanner Scott to bounce back
Roberts previously expressed confidence that Scott will bounce back next season, and Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes expects the 31-year-old to be more of a factor as well.
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