Dave Roberts Declines to Name Tanner Scott the Dodgers’ Designated Closer in 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have several options when it comes to who could close out games throughout the 2025 season. When the Dodgers signed All-Star reliever Tanner Scott, it seemingly signaled the defending champions had found their official closer.
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However, Scott revealed the title did not matter, as he simply wanted to help the Dodgers win another World Series title.
“I just want to win. I just want to win, so whenever the phone rings I’m ready,” Scott told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain at spring training. “I wasn’t a part of it last year, and I want to be a part of it this year so it’s going to be fun.”
In February, MLB insider Jim Bowden reported Roberts announced Scott would open the season as L.A.’s official closer. But it appears that is not the case, though Scott will get the brunt of saves to start 2025.
“I still stand by that,” Roberts said Tuesday, via The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “I think Tanner is going to get the brunt of the closing opportunities. I just don’t want to be in a situation where it’s the eighth inning and it makes too much sense to have him pitch that inning, to have somebody behind him.
“It could change, but I think right now I feel good about that.”
And so, it appears the Dodgers will implement a similar strategy from last season and choose their closer based off matchups. At Scott’s introductory press conference, general manager Brandon Gomes shared that was the plan for their star-studded bullpen.
“I think Tanner is going to get a ton of opportunities to close games,” Gomes said. “But the biggest thing is how it fits together to handle the back end. I think the main focus will be how best do we put that bullpen together down the stretch for Doc to figure out how he’s going to deploy guys.”
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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