Dodgers Sign LHP Tanner Scott to Massive Contract in Blockbuster Deal
The great offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers continues as the team has signed veteran left-hander Tanner Scott to a four-year deal. The deal is for $72 million over the course of the contract as the Dodgers get more weapons for the bullpen.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the news on social media.
Just days after the Dodgers landing starting pitcher Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles continues to add. The team needed another arm in the bullpen and Scott was the best reliever available on the market.
Last season he split time between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. Los Angeles tried to land Scott ahead of the trade deadline but decided that the price was too large to pay.
But a few short months later and the Dodgers got their guy. Scott was a key piece to the success that the Padres had down the stretch of the season, even becoming a weapon for San Diego to use against Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Scott posted an ERA of 2.73 in 28 games with the Padres and an ERA of 1.18 over 44 games with the Marlins. Over the past few seasons, Scott has established himself as an All-Star level reliever, earning a spot on the 2024 All-Star team.
His electric stuff on the mound helped to earn him this deal and now he gives Los Angeles a legitimate weapon out of the bullpen.
While this contract is great and brings in another strong talent to the Dodgers, it’s a little odd. Normally, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is hesitant to hand out large free agent deals to relievers but it seems that Scott could be the exception.
This signing helps to round out an already strong offseason for Los Angeles. The additions of Blake Snell and Sasaki have strengthened this pitching staff but Scott helps to take the bullpen to another level.
Los Angeles will be trying to repeat as World Series champions this coming year and this addition helps that case. The Dodgers struck big on the free agent market once again and don’t have too many holes left to fill along the roster.
Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
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Unreal!! Wow MVP FRONT OFFICE and OWNERSHIP!!! Another top tier signing!!! LETS GEAUX DODGERS!! NEW ORLEANS DODGER!
They finally got Ohtani’s and every big hitters’ kryptonite. Great pickup to complement the heavy right handed bullpen. Along with Vesia, (pending arbitration) you have two solid lefty studs in the pen.
The Dodgers have only one hole left – to unfill – Chris Taylor. Let him go, and resign Kike, and you have the best lineup on both sides of the ball in baseball history. The only question is, what will they do during the WBC, when they lose 3 of their top pitchers for a couple of weeks?
Now, I’ll say it again. You have this plethora of starting pitchers, so stop pitching them long innings in games. For most of the games during most of the season, pull the starter after 4-5 innings or so or 75 pitches or so, and insert one of the other starters for the other 4-5 innings or so. You don’t need to carry as many relievers, and the arms will last longer and maybe, just maybe, you’ll have a full roster available come playoff time.
The piggy-back idea seems worth a try. They have eight to ten starter worthy pitchers [here are 13 – Snell, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani, Sasaki, Gonsolin, May, Kershaw (when ready), Miller, Sheehan (when ready) Casperious, Landon Knack, Wrobleski] and plenty of bullpen options [here are 9 – Tanner Scott, Kopech, Treinen, Phillips, Vesia, Graterol (when ready), Brazier, Banda, Grove] but don’t you want to have your best pitchers pitching the most innings, or should you give that up in trying to avoid injury.? Also they want to have starters go every 6th or 7th day. not every 4th or 5th day, even at a 4-5 inning limit. Worth trying in Spring Training, tho.