The Los Angeles Dodgers made another splash on Thursday, introducing left-handed relief pitcher Tanner Scott to the team, following a day after unveiling Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. Scott’s four-year, $72 million contract became official, further strengthening the Dodgers’ pitching staff as they gear up for another title push. The deal includes a reported $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred salary, although these details were not confirmed by the club.
Scott, who had a standout 2024 season with a 1.75 ERA and made his first All-Star appearance, brings tremendous experience and dominance to the bullpen. After being traded from the Miami Marlins to the San Diego Padres mid-season, Scott delivered impressive playoff performances, including striking out Shohei Ohtani four times in one game. Scott’s success has made him one of the most sought-after relievers, and now, as a Dodger, he will play a pivotal role in what is shaping up to be an excellent bullpen for Los Angeles. Dodgers’ general manager Brandon Gomes highlighted the excitement from both the pitching and hitting groups about Scott’s arrival, noting how hitters were particularly relieved not to have to game-plan against him anymore.
Scott’s addition solidifies the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen, joining returning arms like Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, and Brusdar Graterol. After playing a key part in the team’s World Series win in 2024, the bullpen is expected to be even stronger in 2025, with Scott likely to lock down the closer’s role. While manager Dave Roberts will figure out how best to deploy the bullpen, Gomes emphasized that Scott will get numerous opportunities to close games.
This acquisition is part of a busy offseason for the Dodgers, who have added multiple high-profile players, including Sasaki, Blake Snell, Michael Conforto, and Hyeseong Kim, while also retaining key contributors like Treinen, Teoscar Hernández, and Tommy Edman. Their roster moves make it clear that they are intent on remaining competitive and strengthening their chances to repeat as World Series champions.
Scott’s pitching profile over the past two seasons is particularly impressive, as he ranked among the top pitchers in terms of whiff rate and hard-hit rate. Last season, batters struggled mightily against his fastball, which allowed him to post remarkable numbers across the board, including a 51.2% ground-ball rate.
Having been drafted by the Orioles in 2014, Scott’s journey has been marked by steady improvement. After a solid stint with the Marlins, where he became the closer, Scott’s performance soared in 2023, registering a 2.31 ERA and striking out more batters while improving his walk rate. The Dodgers had long admired Scott and were eager to acquire him, finally making the move after seeing his success firsthand in the playoffs last season. Now, they’re glad to have him on their side, with Scott ready to contribute to the Dodgers’ continued quest for championships.
