Position: RP B/T: R/L
Age: 30 (07/22/1994)
2024 Traditional Stats: 43 G, 44 2/3 IP, 6-5, 1.21 ERA, 0.985 WHIP, 51 SO, 26 BB, 18 SV, 2 BS
2024 Advanced Stats: 361 ERA+, 28.8% SO%, 14.7% BB%, 2.92 xERA, 3.26 FIP, 3.74 xFIP, 0.8 fWAR, 3.2 bWAR
Tanner Scott, one of the most electric left-handed relievers in the game, is expected to be moved by the Miami Marlins over the coming days as the July 30 trade deadline rapidly approaches.
The 30-year-old was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his big league debut in September of 2017 and would go on to make 170 appearances for the club from 2017 to 2021.
A few days before Opening Day in 2022, Scott was traded to the Miami Marlins. His first season in Miami was difficult at times as he pitched to a 4.31 ERA, though he did secure a team-high 20 saves over 67 outings. He really struggled with his command during that stretch, pitching to a 1.612 WHIP while owning a walk rate of 15.9%. Still, 2022 was a step in the right direction.
A year later, Scott finally put it all together. He pitched to a 9-5 record with a 2.31 ERA in 74 appearances during the 2023 season, giving the Marlins a dominant arm at the backend of the bullpen as they returned to the postseason for the first time since 2020. Scott, to his credit, was able to limit the free passes at a much better rate. His 0.987 WHIP and 2.8 walks per nine were both career highs.
Some may have questioned if Scott could recreate that level of production for a second consecutive year. Those concerns have quickly gone away, however, as he’s proven to be one of the few bright spots for a bad Marlins team. In 43 appearances, he is 6-5 with a 1.21 ERA in 44 2/3 innings. He also has an impressive 0.985 WHIP despite being up to 5.24 walks per nine. One big difference? He is only allowing 3.6 hits per nine, down from 6.1 in 2023.
Scott has made 30 appearances since the start of May. He has allowed two earned runs during that period, both of which came against the Mets on June 13. Over the last season and a half, Scott has no doubt become one of the most effective relievers in Major League Baseball.
Scott exclusively throws two pitches – a four-seam fastball and a slider. The fastball has an average velocity of 96.8 MPH while his slider comes in at 88.2 MPH. Hitters are having all kinds of problems timing up his heater, batting .089 with an expected average of .161 against it.
Scott will be a free agent at the end of this season, so this would be a rental. He profiles as one of the best available relievers at the deadline, which will only increase his value and inflate his market.
With that in mind, the return for Scott will likely require several enticing prospects as teams attempt to pry him away from Miami.
While parting with three top-20 prospects isn’t ideal and doesn’t necessarily fit the Mets’ philosophy, Scott is the type of needle-mover who may be an exception. If the club’s offer were to include a prospect of higher stature, such as a bonafide top seven or eight player in their system, they could likely get away with sending two pieces Miami’s way instead of three.
The Mets’ biggest need is bullpen help, especially when it comes to southpaws, making Scott extremely valuable in this case. Brooks Raley going down with a season-ending injury in April left a massive hole while Jake Diekman has struggled to replicate his numbers with the Tampa Bay Rays from a season ago.
Acquiring Scott may come with a higher price tag for the Mets, considering the Marlins would be trading their closer to a division rival. Even if that proves to be true, I think they should go for it. Scott would fill their the biggest need and immediately provide the team with the kind of shutdown reliever they currently lack. Mets fans got a good idea of what he could bring to the table last weekend, and there’s no denying that Scott would be a fantastic addition.
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