Dodgers' comments on Tanner Scott simply don't align with their actions

Los Angeles Dodgers fans are confused about how the front office is describing Tanner Scott these days. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes have been talking about Scott as if he's going to perform like an elite closer in 2026, but Friedman and Gomes' actions reveal that they actually aren't sure at all whether or not Scott will be good.

By "actions" here, we're really referring to one — the Dodgers' front office giving former New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz an historically-rich contract for a reliever (three years, $69 million) to come in an be, well, exactly what Scott was not in 2025.

A year ago, Friedman and Gomes paid a pretty penny to solve their closer situation, with Scott being the recipient of a four-year, $72 million deal. Like Díaz, Scott's production in the recent seasons leading up to the contract earned him the hefty payday. Scott was an All-Star in 2024 with the San Diego Padres. Between 2023 and 2024, his numbers were outstanding: 2.04 ERA, 2.53 FIP and 1.05 WHIP across 150 innings, with a sparkling 31.3% strikeout rate.

When the Dodgers signed Scott, he was being called one of the top closers in the world, and rightfully so. But it's amazing how fortunes and reputations can change so drastically in just one season. After a disastrous first year with Los Angeles in 2025, Scott's $72 million deal is already being labeled among the worst contracts in Major League Baseball.

Scott blew 10 saves last season, finishing 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA, 4.70 FIP, and 1.26 WHIP in 57 innings. The Dodgers didn't use him at all during the postseason. Despite the nightmare year, however, Friedman and Gomes have been outspoken about how Scott can bounce back in 2026. But how much of it do they really mean?

Dodgers are talking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to Tanner Scott

"He’s hungry to get back out there and be a big part of what we do in 2026, and I would definitely bet on him," Friedman recently said of Scott, per SportsNet LA.

"Our full belief is that Tanner is gonna come back and have a great year for us next year, and be right there in the mix to pitch at the back end of games," Gomes told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

Okay, so then why sign Díaz? But hold on — there's actually the possibility of some substance to Friedman and Gomes' remarks, only because we are talking about the Dodgers here. If this were an average MLB team, the Díaz signing would be an obvious indication that the front office doesn't believe in any of their in-house options to close games.

But because we are dealing with the mighty Dodgers and their seemingly infinite wallet, there is a possibility that Friedman and Gomes genuinely expect Scott to bounce back, yet signed Díaz anyway in the spirit of, "why not both?"

When you're fiscally endowed on the level of the Dodgers, you're free to hire reinforcements in areas where you don't desperately need them, just because. This is where Freidman and Gomes get some leeway with their Scott comments. Do we truly believe that they believe what they're saying about Scott's potential resurgence? Not completely. But if they did, nothing about the Dodgers' financial outlook would prevent them from going out and paying Díaz.