The Los Angeles Dodgers officially signed left-handed reliever Tanner Scott to a four-year contract worth $72 million.
The deal also includes a reported $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred money, but the terms were not announced by the club.
With the signing, the Dodgers now have a full 40-man roster.
Scott’s contract has an $18 million average annual value, which is tied with Liam Hendriks for third-highest among relief pitchers in MLB history. They trail Edwin Diaz ($20.4 million) and Josh Hader ($19 million).
Scott’s new contract also is the fifth-highest total for a reliever in MLB history. It’s bested by Diaz ($102 million), Hader ($95 million), Aroldis Chapman ($86 million) and Kenley Jansen ($80 million).
Scott was the top free agent reliever available and a target of the Dodgers dating back to last year.
While the Dodgers had interest in him at the 2024 deadline, the 30-year-old was traded to the San Diego Padres from the Miami Marlins for a haul of prospects.
The Padres traded two of their top four prospects, including Adam Mazur, Jay Beshears, Robby Snelling and Graham Pauley to acquire Scott and Bryan Hoeing.
He served as a valuable piece for them in the postseason, tossing four scoreless appearances.
Overall on the season, Scott posted a 1.75 ERA, 2.92 FIP and 1.13 WHIP across 72 innings while striking out 28.6% of hitters and walking 12.2%. It was his second consecutive season with more than 70 innings pitched and an ERA below 2.35.
Scott had a breakout season in 2023 after struggling to figure things out in the years prior. He owns a career 3.56 ERA in 368.2 innings with a 30.4% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate.
The southpaw has been in the Major Leagues eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles (2017-21), Marlins (2022-24) and San Diego (2024), going a combined 31-24 with a 3.56 ERA. He has 55 career saves and 468 strikeouts in 368.2 innings
Tanner Scott drew widespread interest
Along with the Dodgers, Scott reportedly drew interest from the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets as well.
The Mets seeming fell out of the mix when they signed A.J. Minter.
The Cubs were said to have made a significant offer to Scott as well, but they fell short of matching the Dodgers.
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