Red Sox 
Tanner Scott reportedly agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
By Conor Roche
January 19, 2025 | 4:06 PM
If the Red Sox were hoping to add a top reliever in free agency this offseason, their options further dwindled Sunday.
Tanner Scott agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal with the Dodgers on Sunday, according to multiple reports. The 30-year-old lefty, who pitched for the Marlins and Padres last season, was widely viewed as the top reliever on the open market this offseason.
Scott’s contract was the largest given to a reliever so far this offseason. There was an initial report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that stated the Red Sox offered Scott a longer deal with a higher average annual value than what he got from the Dodgers. However, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported that the Red Sox’ offer to Scott wasn’t longer with a higher average annual value.
Additionally, the Red Sox were “wary” of matching the four years the Dodgers offered, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported. Scott’s contract includes $20 million in deferred money, making the deal more palatable in the interim, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.
It wasn’t reported why the Red Sox were “wary” of offering Scott a four-year deal or if their offer included deferred money. The deal will end a few months after Scott turns 34, presumably taking him through the tail end of his prime seasons.
Scott emerged as one of the best relievers in all of baseball prior to becoming a free agent this offseason. He had a 2.31 ERA in a set-up role for the Marlins in 2023, recording 78 outings that year. Last season, he became an All-Star. He had a 1.18 ERA and 18 saves over 44 outings with the Marlins before getting traded at the deadline to the Padres. He had a 2.73 ERA in a set-up role for San Diego, pitching in 28 games.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has stated on multiple occasions that he’d still like to add another reliever even after signing Aroldis Chapman in December. They’ve already lost Chris Martin, who was their set-up man for much of the last two seasons, in free agency to the Rangers.
Closer Kenley Jansen is still a free agent and one of the top relievers available on the open market. But it seems he’ll almost certainly follow Martin in departing the Red Sox considering the way his 2024 season ended.
Beyond Jansen, there aren’t many other relievers who might considered high-end options available on the free-agent market. Phillies All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman signed with the Blue Jays earlier in January. Standout relievers José Leclerc and Andrew Kittredge were also recently snagged in free agency, agreeing to deals with the Athletics and Orioles, respectfully.
There are still some other notable back of the bullpen options available in free agency. Phillies right-hander Carlos Estévez is likely the top free-agent reliever left. He had a 2.45 ERA in 54 outings last season, recording 20 saves with the Angels before getting traded to the Phillies. Rangers closer Kirby Yates, Rangers set-up man David Robertson, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald, and Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan are among the handful of relievers with closing experience who are still free agents.
The Red Sox haven’t indicated who will be their closer yet for the 2025 season as they continue to shape out the roster. They have a few options, though. Chapman has plenty of experience as a closer, but hasn’t held that role with the teams he’s been on since 2021. Liam Hendriks was one of the top closers in baseball for a few years, but he’s returning from Tommy John surgery this year. Justin Slaten, who had a 2.43 ERA as a rookie in 2024, has also been speculated as a possible closer option for the Red Sox.
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