The Dodgers aren’t content to build the best starting rotation in baseball this winter. They’re trying to do the same with their bullpen.
According to multiple reports on Sunday morning, the Dodgers have reached agreement on a four-year, $72 million contract with free agent left-hander Tanner Scott, the best reliever available on this year’s free-agent market. As has become usual in the Dodgers’ recent deals, the contract includes a big signing bonus ($21 million) and deferred salary ($20 million), lowering the immediate payroll hit for the Dodgers while giving the player tax advantages.
The 30-year-old Scott joins a bullpen group that already includes Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
Over the past two seasons with Miami and San Diego, Scott has been one of the most dominant relievers in the majors, with a 2.04 ERA and 34 saves. Traded from the Marlins to the Padres at midseason last summer, Scott held opposing batters to a .179 batting average with a .528 OPS with a 1.75 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 72 innings.
During the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Padres last October, Scott faced Shohei Ohtani four times and struck him out all four times.
The agreement between the Dodgers and Scott has not been officially confirmed by the team. A roster move will be necessary to clear a 40-man roster spot for Scott.
Before Scott, the Dodgers signed Blake Snell, one of the best starting pitchers on the market, brought back outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and signed outfielder Michael Conforto. They also signed Korean second baseman Hyeseong Kim, extended the contract of utility man Tommy Edman and signed 23-year-old Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki.
With Scott, the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll is estimated to be roughly $375 million, about $70 million more than that of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.
The New York Yankees are the only other team with a competitive balance tax payroll projected to be over $300 million.
The Dodgers are trying to become the first repeat World Series champion since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998 to 2000. Their first spring training workout is on Feb. 11 in Glendale, Arizona, ahead of their opening two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.
