After staying chilly for almost all of the offseason, the free agent market has lastly begun to warmth up for relievers this week with veteran right-handers Chris Martin and Andrew Kittredge each agreeing to one-year offers. They be a part of earlier offers for Aroldis Chapman, Blake Treinen, and Yimi Garcia among the many main signings of the winter amongst late-inning reduction arms, however quite a lot of the highest arms in the marketplace stay accessible at this level. Chief amongst these choices is left-hander Tanner Scott, who loved a breakout season in 2023 with the Marlins and constructed on that final 12 months to ship a dominant platform marketing campaign in Miami and San Diego.
Scott’s unbelievable work over the previous two seasons, when he’s pitched to a mixed 2.04 ERA (224 ERA+) with a 2.53 ERA with a 31.3% strikeout fee in 150 innings of labor, has catapulted him to the top of the marketplace for reduction arms in his first journey by way of free company this winter. On the outset of the offseason, MLBTR predicted that Scott would land a four-year, $56MM deal. Even that hefty price ticket might have been gentle, as reporting has indicated that Scott might obtain a multi-year deal within the realm of $20MM yearly.
That may seemingly put him according to the opposite high closers in the marketplace in recent times, Josh Hader and Edwin Diaz, a minimum of by way of common annual worth. The most important assure for a reliever in MLB historical past went to Diaz, who signed a five-year, $102MM deal ($20.4MM AAV). That contract contained appreciable deferrals, nonetheless, and by measure of internet current worth was valued nearer to $93MM. Hader signed a five-year deal price $95MM with out deferred cash ($19MM AAV). It could be a shock if Scott managed to surpass the ensures Hader and Diaz landed, however the AAV is extra possible (particularly on a three-year deal).
Scott is a number of months older than Hader was on the time of his deal and greater than a 12 months older than Diaz was. He additionally merely lacks the monitor report of the opposite two. Hader and Diaz had been multi-time All-Stars with top-10 Cy Younger finishes who’d spent just about their total careers as late-inning arms. Scott was a center reliever for the primary a number of seasons of his profession, with a 4.61 ERA (95 ERA+) and a 3.91 FIP getting into his breakout 2023 marketing campaign.
Rumblings on Scott haven’t been notably prolific this winter, however a number of groups have been related to the southpaw. The Yankees had been reportedly within the combine earlier this winter, although their addition of nearer Devin Williams, present want for an infielder, and reportedly restricted funds house going ahead might take them out of the working. Alternatively, if they’ll commerce Marcus Stroman, which may make them extra amenable to a different splash within the ’pen. The Dodgers have been the staff most steadily related to Scott, whereas the Mets reportedly held a gathering with him just lately. The Braves and Crimson Sox have been a minimum of loosely related to Scott as properly.
The Dodgers make loads of sense after a season the place they struggled to search out consistency within the ninth inning. Their late-inning combine is at present headlined by a mix of Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Treinen. That trio all throw from the appropriate facet, making Scott a pleasant addition as a dominant southpaw to pair with fellow lefty Alex Vesia.
The Mets certainly discover the concept of pairing Scott with Diaz tantalizing. It’d be comprehensible if Diaz’s misplaced 2023 season and struggles within the first half of 2024 led the membership to be a bit cautious in terms of prolonged offers for relievers, however these elements can also reinforce the worth of including one other shutdown arm who will help preserve the bullpen afloat if Diaz is injured or struggling.
The Crimson Sox entered the winter in want of high-leverage reduction assist after shedding Martin and Kenley Jansen to free company, and expressed a transparent desire for including a lefty to the combination. That made Scott a seemingly superb match for the membership, however they struck shortly in free company by including Chapman. They continue to be concerned within the reduction market, however it’s unclear whether or not they’re nonetheless pursuing Scott particularly.
Maybe essentially the most fascinating sleeper is Atlanta. It’s been an especially quiet winter for the Braves. By this time final 12 months, they’d already swung trades for Aaron Bummer, Jarred Kelenic, and Chris Sale, prolonged each Sale and Pierce Johnson, and signed Joe Jimenez and Reynaldo Lopez in free company. This winter has been quiet exterior of buying and selling Jorge Soler in a wage dump deal and restructuring the contracts of Lopez and Bummer. Atlanta’s most vital addition is a break up contract for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz. The Braves usually aren’t shy about paying heavy per-year salaries within the bullpen, and with Raisel Iglesias ticketed at no cost company subsequent winter and Jimenez probably out for the season, maybe the membership might look to Scott to fortify the bullpen within the short-term earlier than taking up because the nearer in future seasons.
There are, after all, different speculative suits to contemplate — even when they’ve but to be particularly linked to Scott. The D-backs nonetheless desire a nearer and already made one stunning free-agent seize once they inked Corbin Burnes. The Blue Jays preserve ending runner-up on all their pursuits; might they finally pivot to an enormous bullpen splash? The Giants have been tied to Pete Alonso just lately and had been in on Burnes earlier than he signed in Arizona; they clearly nonetheless have some cash to spend, even after signing Justin Verlander.
So, the place will Scott find yourself? And can he method and even exceed the offers landed by Hader and Diaz in free company, or hew extra carefully to MLBTR’s $56MM prediction on the outset of free company? Have your say within the polls under:
