When Shohei Ohtani signed in Los Angeles by deferring 97% of his salary into the future, he told his club that he, in return, wanted several high-profile players signed with space in the budget.
And to the great misfortune of many people, the Dodgers bosses got the message.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a big move by getting their hands on the best reliever available on the free agent market, Tanner Scott. They beat the Cubs at the end of derby.
He will earn $18 million per season on average for four years, or $72 million in total. It seems the Dodgers have wanted him for a long time.
Obviously, in the heart of a second winter in a row where the Dodgers are going all out, it is clear that this signing, with or without deferred money, will have the effect of creating even more hatred towards the Dodgers.
Their rotation is fragile (as good as it is) in terms of health and the Dodgers decided to protect it by strengthening their bullpen. Scott was the best way to do it.
-Scott, who spent the last three seasons in Miami and San Diego (as a rental player in 2024), is moving to the Padres’ foe, then. His average of 1.75 in 2024 demonstrates that he was at the top of his game.
He pushes the Dodgers’ payroll to $375 million, $70 million more than the Phillies. As Jeff Passan says, only the Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers are worth more than $300 million.
We certainly can’t blame the Dodgers for not trying to win, in any case.
Note, moreover, that the Blue Jays were also on Scott’s case. The Blue Jays jumping into the void and losing the player to the Dodgers? Impossible!
