Tanner Scott is headed to Chavez Ravine, as he turned the Dodgers’ newest big-ticket acquisition when he signed a four-year, $72MM deal earlier at this time. The Cubs, Braves, Mets, and Yankees had all been linked to Scott’s market earlier this winter, however varied experiences from this afternoon indicated that the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Purple Sox additionally had curiosity within the left-hander’s companies.
The willingness of the Dodgers and different groups to present Scott 4 assured years gave the impression to be the dealbreaker for at the very least a few groups.  The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka and MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo wrote that the Orioles and Purple Sox, respectively, every had misgivings about that lengthy of a dedication. Specifically, Cotillo poured chilly water on hypothesis that Boston provided Scott an extended cope with a bigger common annual worth, as a supply tells Cotillo that such experiences of an even bigger supply have been “very inaccurate.”
The O’s nonetheless at the very least “remained engaged” on Scott “as of some days in the past,” Kostka wrote, which may communicate to the group’s familiarity with the reliever. In fact, Scott started his profession as a Baltimore draft choose and spent his first 5 MLB seasons in an Orioles uniform, posting a 4.73 ERA over his 156 innings out of the group’s bullpen. The large strikeout numbers and potential was clearly already current for Scott throughout his time in Baltimore, although it wasn’t till the 2023 season (when Scott was with the Marlins) that he lastly appeared to resolve his longstanding management issues.
Baltimore’s one-year, $10MM cope with Andrew Kittredge from earlier this week additionally appears to usually line up with Kostka’s timeline, so it isn’t shocking that the O’s moved away from Scott after touchdown one other high-leverage reliever at a a lot lower cost tag. Kittredge tasks because the Orioles’ high setup man in entrance of nearer Felix Bautista, who’s returning after a 12 months recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Kittredge is the highest-profile reliever the O’s have acquired this winter, whereas the Purple Sox introduced in Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson on assured contracts, and some different veterans on minor league offers. As Cotillo notes, the Purple Sox had talks with Scott, Kittredge, and a number of other different relievers who’ve since signed contracts, as Boston continues to search for assist on the again finish of its bullpen. Liam Hendriks is penciled into the nearer’s position, although some depth is a necessity since Hendriks (like Bautista) additionally missed 2024 whereas rehabbing from a TJ process.
Toronto followers received’t be happy to listen to the Blue Jays misplaced one other goal to the Dodgers, however the New York Put up’s Jon Heyman certainly experiences that the Jays “have been amongst [the] groups in on Scott.” The depth of the Blue Jays’ curiosity isn’t recognized, and for the reason that Jays landed Jeff Hoffman final week, it appears attainable that the Hoffman signing was a pivot away from Scott’s escalating market.
That mentioned, the Blue Jays have already been extra aggressive than traditional in including aid pitching, which isn’t a shock given the dire efficiency of their 2024 bullpen. Toronto has already added Hoffman, Nick Sandlin, and previous pal Yimi Garcia as a part of the bullpen overhaul, and relying on whether or not or not the Jays purchase one other beginning pitcher, Yariel Rodriguez is perhaps a part of the aid combine as properly if he isn’t used because the fifth starter.
