All-Star pitcher Tanner Scott is the best reliever left on the free-agent market. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers have recently been linked to the left-handed hurler. But could both clubs lose out because Scott decides to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies?
The Phillies’ bullpen lost two key pieces this offseason once free agency opened, as Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez reached the open market. While Estévez is still available, Hoffman just agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has signed Joe Ross and Jordan Romano for Philly’s 2025 bullpen. For a club with championship aspirations like the Phillies, manager Rob Thomson could use a top-shelf option to turn to in the ninth inning.
Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein thinks Scott will ultimately head to the City of Brotherly Love on a four-year, $60 million deal. Landing the left-hander would serve two purposes – it’d strengthen Philly’s relief corps while also keeping him away from two National League rivals.
Scott split his 2024 campaign between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. He earned his first All-Star Game selection while posting a 9-6 record with a 1.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 22 saves and 84 strikeouts in 72 innings. This was his second consecutive above-average campaign – Scott twirled a 2.31 ERA through 78 innings for Miami in 2023.
Finkelstein’s $60 million prediction is close to Spotrac’s projection, which comes in at four years and $65 million. There hasn’t been much leaked about the closer’s current market, so it’s unknown how close he’ll get to these hypothetical contract numbers.
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