LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a four-year, $72 million agreement with relief pitcher Tanner Scott on Thursday, marking a significant increase in their offseason expenditures to a total of $452 million across eight players.
Scott, a left-handed pitcher, achieved All-Star status for the first time last season, finishing with a record of 9-6, an impressive 1.75 ERA, and 22 saves out of 24 opportunities while playing for the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres, who acquired him on July 30. Over the course of 72 innings, he struck out 84 batters while allowing 36 walks.
During his introduction at Dodger Stadium, Scott expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s going to be a really exciting year. There’s a great group of guys. They keep adding people and it’s awesome to see and I’m ready to be a part of it. Whenever the (bullpen) phone rings, I’m ready to go. I just want to win.”
At 30 years old, Scott boasts an overall record of 31-24 with a 3.56 ERA and 55 saves accumulated while playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 2017 to 2021, as well as Miami and San Diego.
Dodgers’ General Manager Brandon Gomes commented on Scott’s acquisition, saying, “He’s someone that we have watched and admired from afar over the years and have tried to acquire multiple times, even last year as well and we failed to do so. Unfortunately, we got to see it far too up close and personal in the DS, and we are glad to be on this side of it today.”
After clinching their second World Series title in five years, the Dodgers also secured utilityman Tommy Edman with a five-year, $74 million deal, outfielder Teoscar Hernández for three years at $66 million, and right-hander Blake Treinen for $22 million over two years.
In addition to Scott, the Dodgers welcomed left-hander Blake Snell, who signed for $182 million over five years, outfielder Michael Conforto for one season at $17 million, and second baseman Hyeseong Kim, who will receive $12.5 million over three years. They also signed right-hander Roki Sasaki to a minor league contract which includes a $6.5 million signing bonus.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, emphasized a proactive approach this offseason, stating, “Going into this offseason it was ‘Let’s do everything we can on the front end. Let’s be as aggressive as we can and be in a position where we don’t have to go to market in July.’”
Throughout the 2023-24 offseason, the Dodgers committed over $1.3 billion to five key players, including two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani with a historic 10-year, $700 million deal, right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million for 12 years) and Tyler Glasnow ($136,562,500 for five years), along with Hernández and catcher Will Smith, who signed a 10-year contract worth $140 million.
Moreover, the Dodgers are responsible for release fees totaling $50,625,000 to Japanese clubs for Yamamoto, in addition to $1,625,000 for Sasaki.
