MLB Rumors: Tanner Scott, Mets Had Meeting as NY Eyes Reliever Contracts, Trades
January 7, 2025
The New York Mets have met with free agent relief pitcher Tanner Scott amid their search for bullpen help, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon.
Scott is considered one of MLB's top unsigned relievers after recording a career-high 22 saves during a 2024 campaign split between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
ESPN's Jeff Passan recently reported that Scott is expected to command "a four-year deal for $15 million or more a year" in free agency.
That contract would be outlier for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who has not offered a bullpen player multiple guaranteed seasons since joining the franchise in October 2023, as noted by Sammon.
The Mets still want to add "one or two relievers" this offseason, per Sammon.
According to Sammon, "the expectation is for the team to check out all segments of the relief market, including trades."
Jeff Hoffman remains on the market, but has received interest from teams as a starter, per Passan.
If the Mets decide to pursue Scott, they won't be the only team interested. He has been connected to the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox by The Athletic's David O'Brien and MassLive's Chris Cotillo, with Cotillo describing the market for him as "crowded."
Chris Cotillo @ChrisCotilloIt's a crowded market for Tanner Scott, who is going to set the slow-moving relief market when he does sign. The Red Sox have poked around on the high-end relievers and have cash to burn. <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_McAdam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sean_McAdam</a> has heard a $20M AAV is in play. I've heard likely multiple big-market bidders.
Mets starters ranked 12th in MLB with a 3.91 ERA last season, while the bullpen finished the campaign at No. 17 with a 4.03 ERA and 39 saves.
Scott, who earned his first career All-Star nod after posting a 1.75 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 72.0 innings pitched last season, could help the Mets improve those numbers.
He finished the season with one of the lowest average exit velocities in the MLB at 84.3 miles per hour, and struck out Shohei Ohtani multiple times during the Padres' division series against the Dodgers.
Stearns and the Mets got a good look at him during the campaign as he recorded three saves in five outings against New York. Scott allowed just one hit and two runs while striking out 10 in 6.2 innings against the Mets.
The Mets have spent a busy offseason shoring up their batting lineup with the addition of Juan Soto, while adding converted reliever Clay Holmes and re-signing Sean Manaea to join Kodai Senga in the rotation.
The bullpen has meanwhile remained relatively unchanged. Edwin Díaz returned from 2023 knee surgery to prove himself a reliable closer last season, but the Mets could use another go-to option to close out games.
Adding both Scott and Díaz, who agreed to a five-year, $102 million deal with the team in 2022, would make for an expensive bullpen. The Mets may be willing to consider the cost if they believe a stronger bullpen is key to contending next fall.
