Tanner Scott was arguably the biggest piece to move at the trade deadline last summer. Now, he has the biggest payday of any reliever in his free-agent class.
Scott signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a league source said. The total outlay fell short of the $95 million contract another top reliever, Josh Hader, secured last offseason. It still reinforced the rarity of a hard-throwing lefty with proven closing experience.
Scott, The Athletic’s No. 19 ranked free agent this offseason, racked up 102 saves over the past three seasons. Between 2023 and 2024, he compiled a 2.04 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 150 innings while shutting down both lefties (.167 average) and righties (.194). Two weeks after Scott’s first All-Star Game appearance, the San Diego Padres paid a premium for him in July, sending four prospects to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Scott and right-hander Bryan Hoeing.
Scott showcased uncommon velocity and frequent versatility in his brief time in San Diego. With Robert Suarez already entrenched as the Padres’ primary closer, Scott appeared in the seventh, eighth and occasionally the ninth innings. He entered a wild-card series game against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth.
Scott’s effectiveness in various situations attracted a wide range of teams. The Dodgers, of course, are paying the 30-year-old to reprise his role as an All-Star-caliber closer. Some wildness is to be expected. Scott walked 4.5 batters per nine innings in 2024, in line with his career average.
MLB.com was first to report news of Scott’s deal with the Dodgers.
(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
