The Dodgers are at it again. Just when you thought their MLB offseason spending spree couldn’t get any bigger, they pulled off another blockbuster move to bolster their pitching arsenal.
Fresh off signing Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers have now locked down left-handed reliever Tanner Scott with a four-year, $72 million contract, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
While the team hasn’t officially confirmed the deal yet, it’s clear that Los Angeles is going all-in on their pursuit of dominance. This deal is a big hit to other teams like the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets who were both in hot pursuit of Scott.
Tanner Scott: One of MLB’s Nastiest Relievers
And let’s talk about Tanner Scott for a second—this guy has quietly been one of the nastiest relievers in the game over the past couple of seasons. Splitting time between the Marlins and the Padres, Scott has consistently ranked in the upper echelons of MLB’s leaderboards.
We’re talking a whiff rate of 34.7% and a hard-hit rate of just 27.5%, both putting him in the 90th percentile or better. Good luck if you’re a hitter standing in against Scott.
His high-90s four-seamer? Practically untouchable. Opponents managed a minuscule .134 batting average against it last season, with an equally ridiculous .179 slugging percentage—both of which were at the very top of the leaderboard among pitchers who threw at least 300 four-seamers.
And it’s not just the velocity; Scott’s fastball and slider combo both feature extra vertical movement compared to similar pitches, leading to an impressive 51.2% ground-ball rate since the start of 2023. When hitters manage to make contact, they usually just pounded the ball into the dirt.
MLB Career of Ups and Downs Before Breaking Out
Scott’s journey to this point hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Originally drafted by the Orioles in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, his early years in Baltimore were rocky, with a 4.73 ERA and a .738 opponents’ OPS over five seasons.
A trade to the Marlins before the 2022 season gave him a fresh start, and while he notched 20 saves that year, his 4.31 ERA and a walk-heavy approach (46 walks in 62 2/3 innings) left room for improvement.
But then came 2023—a breakout season that saw his chase rate skyrocket to 35.3%, third-best in the league for pitchers who threw at least 500 pitches outside the strike zone. Batters simply couldn’t lay off his stuff, leading to a sterling 2.31 ERA and a .527 opponents’ OPS.
Scott was practically untouchable before last year’s trade deadline, sporting a 1.18 ERA over 45 2/3 innings before the Padres acquired him in a six-player deal.
His stint in San Diego? More of the same dominance. A 1.75 ERA, an elite 25.7% hard-hit rate, and—perhaps most importantly—a significantly improved walk rate of just 8.0%.
That’s a huge leap from his career 13.0% walk rate, showing that Scott is evolving into a more complete and reliable bullpen weapon.
Why Tanner Scott is a Game-Changer for the Dodgers
This signing isn’t just about adding another arm for the Dodgers. It’s about fortifying a bullpen that has often been their Achilles’ heel in recent postseason runs.
With Scott’s ability to miss bats, induce soft contact, and now limit free passes, he could be a game-changer in high-leverage situations. LA continues to make things more and more difficult for other teams highly interested in acquiring the same players.
