Tanner Scott Gets $72 Million to Silence Lefties
When it comes to left-handed relievers in the MLB, nobody does it better than Tanner Scott. After lighting it up in the playoffs, Scott just signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him a very rich man.
The contract is a reflection of how much value Scott brings to his team. Over the last two seasons, he has the highest WAR among all relievers. He was nearly unhittable in last year’s playoffs after striking out seven batters in five scoreless innings. Four of those strikeouts came against arguably the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani.
Nasty Stuff
Scott’s success comes down to his amazing fastball and slider combo, which regularly leaves batters flailing. Last season, not only did he have the lowest hard-hit rate among all MLB pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched, but he also had a ridiculous 32.7% whiff rate.
Zones and Control
The knock on Scott was once his control, but he has improved significantly in that area. Earlier in his career, he was walking batters at an alarming rate, but he has since found the strike zone consistently.
His new contract shows that the Dodgers are confident in his ability to continue to limit his walks.
Dodgers Bet Big
The Dodgers are going all in to win another World Series, and Scott is a key part of that plan. He can pitch in different situations as a closer or a setup man, giving the Dodgers flexibility when it comes to putting away left-handed batters or giving right-handers a hard time.
Offseason Spending Spree
The Dodgers have signed a slew of free agents this offseason, including Blake Snell and Michael Conforto. They’ve also re-signed some of their own players. Tanner Scott is the latest addition to their star-studded roster, which includes four All-Stars and two former MVPs.
The Dodgers are going to be the team to beat in 2025, and Scott will be a big reason why.
