Tanner Scott Hot Stove: MLB insider predicts Dodgers making big play for All-Star free agent currently seeking four-year, $80 million deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not yet bolstered their bullpen in this off-season, so they are reportedly ready to spend a big sum on acquiring Tanner Scott in the free agent market.

As per Dodgers Nation, the reigning World Series champions may be lining up a four-year, $80 million contract to add the left-handed pitcher to their roster after failing to land right-hander Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers last month.

Tanner Scott was an All-Star for the Miami Marlins this season, being one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the team. He was offloaded to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline before becoming a free agent at the end of the campaign. Overall, Scott pitched 72 innings for the two teams during the regular season with 84 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA.

Tim Britton of The Athletic had predicted a four-year, $60 million contract for Tanner Scott in November last year. However, it has been reported that the 30-year-old free agent is expecting around $80 million for the same tenure. He is one of the top relievers that are available in the open market, and his stock has risen after Devin Williams joined the New York Yankees in a trade deal last month.

"The Yankees have since traded for Devin Williams while the Dodgers have yet to add anyone to their bullpen," wrote R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports. "The Dodgers don't lose a lot of bidding wars, so we'll go ahead and pencil them in."

The Dodgers have to add a top-notch reliever to their bullpen in this off-season after missing out on Devin Williams. The organization usually gets a player in the free agent market when they desire to sign him, so they might not have any hesitation to pay Tanner Scott what he wants.

Dodgers likely to use deferred payments to sign Tanner Scott

Tanner Scott was selected for the All-Star game for the first time in his career last year (Image Source: Imagn)

Deferred payments have been an important financial strategy for the Los Angeles Dodgers in signing free agents to the ballclub. It helps the franchise to pay out the entire sum to the player at a later date and thereby allows the front office to utilize its finances to continue building the team for the next season.

Shohei Ohtani had deferred the vast majority of his record-breaking $700 million deal last year. So far in this off-season, the Dodgers have signed Blake Snell and Teoscar Hernández from the free agent market, and the greater share of their salaries will be deferred money. Therefore, the Dodgers are certainly going to use the same ploy if they sign Tanner Scott this year.