What Does the Dodgers Bullpen Look Like With Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates Additions?
The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen was one of the best in baseball last season and, looking ahead, is sure to be the best in 2025 after locking in Tanner Scott for four years and Kirby Yates on another reported signing.
Scott gives the Dodgers another left-handed option out of the bullpen. Before signing his $72 million deal, Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda were the only left-handers.
Read more: Dodgers Sign LHP Tanner Scott to Massive Contract in Blockbuster Deal
It is also very possible that Scott could take over as the team’s closer as the Dodgers really didn’t have that role defined last season after Evan Phillips gave it up.
The bullpen could potentially include Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Phillips, Banda, Ryan Brasier, Yates, Vesia, and Scott. There is also room for more like Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin, who may not have a spot in the starting rotation now that Roki Sasaki is on board.
Landon Knack and Emmet Sheehan will also be searching for where they belong on the depth chat during spring training. Gavin Stone will miss the year while recovering from Tommy John surgery and Clayton Kershaw is expected to be back at some point after he is fully healed from offseason procedures.
Down the stretch and into October during the 2024 season, the Dodgers leaned heavily on their bullpen, a necessity with just three healthy starters available.
Relievers ended up shouldering 60.8 percent of the postseason innings, playing a pivotal role in the team’s championship run. During the regular season, the Dodgers’ bullpen posted a 3.53 ERA, ranking fourth in the majors, though their 23.3 percent strikeout rate ranked 19th.
Scott earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, finishing the season with a stellar 1.75 ERA — good for sixth among qualified relievers — along with 84 strikeouts and 36 walks across 72 innings split between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. He saved 22 games last year, 18 with Miami and four with San Diego, bringing his three-year total to 54 saves.
Since 2022, Scott has posted a 2.71 ERA over 212.2 innings — the third-highest workload among relievers — while maintaining a 31.2 percent strikeout rate, ranking 18th in the majors.
Yates had a 1.17 ERA last season, making the All-Star team for the second time in his career, and first since 2019.
The Dodgers got an extended look at Scott during their final week of the regular season and the NLDS, facing him six times in eight games against the Padres. Though he allowed three runs and took the loss once, he rebounded with three scoreless innings over four NLDS appearances.
More news: MLB Fans Outraged After Dodgers Sign Tanner Scott
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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