Dodgers Predicted to Sign Tanner Scott in Blockbuster Deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain in the market for relief help, and R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports predicts they’ll make a big splash by adding All-Star free agent Tanner Scott this offseason.
The prediction makes a lot of sense given the Dodgers’ willingness to open their check book for top talent, and the lack of relief pitching they have acquired this offseason.
Since the New York Yankees acquired Devin Williams earlier this offseason — a reliever Los Angeles had its sights on — Anderson predicted that the Scott sweepstakes would come down to a bidding war, and “the Dodgers don’t lose a lot of bidding wars.”
Anderson is definitely correct in his assessment on the Dodgers’ past free agency experiences and that is partially due to the team’s use of deferred money in these contracts. The deferred money allows players to still make the promised contract amount, but deferring a majority of the money to receive at a later date, allowing the team to make more fiscally conducive moves for the current season.
Scott is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he started on the Miami Marlins and was then traded mid-season to the San Diego Padres. The 30-year-old left hander had his lowest ERA since the shortened 2020 season (1.75), 22 saves, and 84 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.
These numbers will likely lead to him becoming one of the highest-paid relievers in the league.
The Athletic’s Tim Britton projected a four-year, $64 million deal for Scott back in November, a number that seems extremely doable for the Dodgers. More recently, it was reported that Scott was seeking a four-year, $80 million deal.
Although the Dodgers just paid over $103 million in luxury taxes last year, the magic they made with deferred money last year paid off with an eighth World Series title. Their latest signing of Teoscar Hernández last week included $23 million in deferred money.
If Scott ends up signing with the Dodgers, and if he includes deferred money in his deal, he would be joining the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Will Smith and now Blake Snell as rostered Dodgers with over $20 million in deferred money over the life of the contract.
A relief pitcher putting up some of the best numbers of his career, and a team who is by no means being frugal when it comes to paying talent, seems like a match made in blue heaven.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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I was hoping early on before the bidding got highly competitive the Dodgers would get T. Scott. Need to balance the pen with another lefty stopper w/ Vesia as the bullpen is heavy right-handed. Another thing is he’s very successful against Ohtani…..best to get him on our side.
I’d rather see them not sign this dude and find a way to get D May and T Gonsolin (and the rest) back into form and start unloading some of that 40-man. Relievers can be made (D May) or acquired. Don’t need to shell out more of the money for the 2030’s. Besides, how many more injured SPs age 25/26 can be carried on the roster and play?????
I agree about May, he seems like a prototypical reliever to me. He would be lights out if all he had to focus on is one inning, and would probably last longer. But why not that and TScott also?
We need Tanner Scott, pay the man!
The Dodgers needs a good closer. The talk about bringing Kenly Jensen back is scary!
We missed out on Williams so just gibe him an offer of 70 million, signing bonus of 15 million, and defer 30 million!
I love my Dodgers but man all that deferred money is risky. Yes, they have smart owners that use that deferred money and put it to work as in stocks or whatever they do with it man …Chill out naaa just playing spend that effing money man and bring us more CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! DODGER BLUE BABY