Red Sox Left Searching for Bullpen Reinforcements After Tanner Scott Joins Dodgers

The Red Sox face renewed challenges in their bullpen pursuit as top reliever Tanner Scott signs with the Dodgers. With their primary target off the market, Boston now turns to remaining options in free agency and trade talks, balancing bullpen needs with their ongoing quest for a right-handed bat.

Jan 20, 2025 - 07:08
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Red Sox Left Searching for Bullpen Reinforcements After Tanner Scott Joins Dodgers
Tanner Scott is off the board, but a few good relievers remain free agents.

The top reliever on this year’s free agent market has been signed, leaving the Red Sox once again playing second fiddle. Left-hander Tanner Scott agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with the powerhouse Dodgers on Saturday, as first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal marks one of the highest average annual values ever given to a reliever, strengthening a Dodgers pitching staff already bolstered by Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki this offseason. Scott, who posted an impressive 1.75 ERA over 72 innings with Miami and San Diego last year, was always poised to command a substantial contract, with multiple big-market teams in pursuit.

Sources indicate that while the Red Sox stayed engaged with Scott throughout the winter, suggestions that they offered a more lucrative deal than the Dodgers in both years and AAV were described as very inaccurate. The Red Sox were reportedly hesitant to commit to four years for Scott, who will be 34 by the end of the season. Other teams, including the Cubs and Mets, were also active in Scott’s market, with the Mets ultimately signing fellow lefty A.J. Minter late last week.

It’s no secret that Boston is looking to add another veteran reliever to a core that already includes righties Justin Slaten, Liam Hendriks, and Garrett Whitlock, as well as new lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson for 2025. As of earlier this month, the Red Sox had been in contact with numerous free-agent relievers and were believed to be targeting top-tier options. However, the list of viable candidates has shrunk significantly over the past two weeks.

Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Minter, José Leclerc, and Andrew Kittredge have all signed recently, and Clay Holmes, Blake Treinen, and Chris Martin are also off the market. While it’s unclear whether the Sox came close to securing any of these pitchers, they were in discussions with at least Scott, Hoffman, Minter, Kittredge, and Martin. With Scott now off the board, the remainder of the relief market is expected to move quickly.

Among the remaining options are top-tier choices like Kirby Yates, Carlos Estévez, David Robertson, and veteran righties Tommy Kahnle, Paul Sewald, Kyle Finnegan, Phil Maton, and Jakob Junis, as well as lefties Andrew Chafin and Colin Poche. Kenley Jansen remains unsigned, though a reunion with Boston seems unlikely following a less-than-ideal end to his tenure with the team.

Boston has expressed interest in several of the remaining free agents and has the financial flexibility to make a deal. After completing their four arbitration deals, the Red Sox are estimated to have approximately $32 million available before reaching the first competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold of $241 million. A short-term, high-AAV contract for a veteran righty like Yates, Estévez, Robertson, or Kahnle would make sense, especially as they look to add another strong arm to the bullpen. Additionally, there are notable trade options like St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley and Houston’s Ryan Pressly. However, the most straightforward route in acquiring a reliever is often through free agency rather than trading prospects. The Red Sox have the financial resources to land one of the remaining right-handed relievers, and with many teams, including those who missed out on Scott, also seeking bullpen help, competition for these arms will be fierce. For instance, Kahnle has already drawn interest from eight teams, making it a highly competitive market.

Despite their bullpen needs, sources suggest that adding a right-handed bat remains Boston’s top priority. Free agents Alex Bregman and Cardinals trade candidate Nolan Arenado remain the primary targets, though both have their own complexities. Boston could be biding its time, waiting for either Bregman (potentially seeking a short-term deal) or the Cardinals (who might be looking to offload salary) to grow more desperate as spring training approaches. Beyond Bregman and Arenado, the list of right-handed hitting options is limited, with free agent Randal Grichuk and Cubs trade candidate Seiya Suzuki among the remaining possibilities.

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