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Four years, $80 million!
Those are the reported contract numbers that 30-year-old free agent southpaw reliever Tanner Scott is seeking to sign with a MLB team.
While that may be Scott’s starting point in negotiations, it isn’t an unreasonable expectation considering that MLB is going through an unprecedented period of inflated salaries. Particularly, for those players who have proven to be in the upper echelon of talent at the highest level of competition.
(D. Benjamin Miller)
In 2017, the Dodgers rewarded Kenley Jansen, their dominant closer for the previous five seasons, with a five-year, $80 million contract. Eight years later, Scott’s expectations may not seem exorbitant considering his recent domination in late-inning, high-leverage appearances. He will likely sign for less than his desired contract, but is he the right fit at the back end of the Dodgers bullpen?
Reportedly, the Dodgers attempted to acquire Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams, but the New York Yankees made a better trade offer and Williams will be closing for the Bronx Bombers in 2025 (he is eligible for free agency after the season). Adding a reliever with closing talent and experience appears to be one of the Dodgers’ remaining roster priorities.
Compare Scott’s pitching stats to those of Dodgers lefty Alex Vesia and you will note that they are quite similar. An argument can be made that Vesia is the better overall reliever, is two years younger, with two years of team control remaining. Rather than go through arbitration with their lefty reliever, perhaps an extension can be worked out that will be much less than Scott’s asking price.
Adding Scott to a bullpen of Vesia, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips for the last four innings of any game would be formidable for any team to overcome. And there is another compelling reason for the Dodgers to add the free-agent lefty – it assures that their hitters will not have to face him in the postseason, whether in the National League playoffs or the World Series.
Clayton Kershaw remains unsigned and the team hopes to sign NPB star pitcher Roki Sasaki, but the Dodgers have the business acumen and financial wherewithal to sign both and Tanner Scott. It may take some significant deferral money (notably Kershaw) and/or trades to reduce payroll (Ryan Brasier – $4.5M, Tony Gonsolin – $5.4M, Kopech – $5.2M, utility infielder Miguel Rojas – $5M), but look for Tanner Scott in the Dodgers bullpen on Opening Day 2025.
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