Dodgers fans might be able to empathize with Tanner Scott’s explanation for 2025 struggles

Tanner Scott might be a Los Angeles Dodgers bust until proven otherwise, but at least he's got a convincing explanation for what went wrong in 2025.

In a new article from The New York Post's Dylan Hernandez, Scott opened up about getting crushed by the expectations of his four-year, $72 million contract.

"It was mentally exhausting," Scott told Hernandez of his debut Dodgers season.

Tanner Scott allowed expectations to mess with his 2025 pitching plan

Interestingly, Scott suggested that the burdensome expectations to validate his contract caused him to alter his pitching approach.

Scott started throwing the ball much more in the zone than he typically does, and the results were ugly. He ended the year with a 4.74 ERA and nine blown saves, eliminating himself from Dave Roberts' playoff plan through underperformance and ultimately, injury.

Scott missed a month during the season due to elbow inflammation and then later developed an abscess on his posterior requiring surgery.

The psychological barriers only mounted as Scott's stuff and body failed him. As the third-highest paid reliever by AAV in baseball last season, Scott had to feel like he was plummeting his reputation and letting the Dodgers down.

The outside noise only grew louder this offseason when The Athletic ranked Scott's contract as the 10th worst in MLB (look away, Tanner!).

Scott's 2025 issues were relatable to the average Dodgers fan

The problem is, it's impossible to look away. That's human nature, and it's also what might create space for some empathy for Scott in the mind of the average Dodgers fan. We've all been burdened by expectations in our lives and failed to deliver. The feeling stinks, and Scott coming out and sharing this experience can only gain him more supporters in LA (he's essentially starting at zero after last season).

Scott has his vocal supporters inside the Dodgers organization. General manager Brandon Gomes and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman both made a point to praise Scott this offseason and publicly express the shared belief that Scott will rebound in 2026.

Of course, this all came across as front office doublespeak, with the Dodgers going out and giving Edwin Díaz $69 million, primarily due to Scott's failings in '25.

The Díaz signing wasn't made to help Scott, but it might as well have been. Edwin's arrival suddenly removes all of the burden from Scott's shoulders, and that might be exactly what he needs to regain his mojo.

LA's bullpen over the last year has produced a myriad of unexpected outcomes, both good and bad. No one would have ever expected Roki Sasaki's rookie year to take the shape it did, defined by early heartbreak and salvaged in the end by a closer role.

In other words, stranger things have recently happened in the Dodgers' pen than a Scott resurgence. The opportunity is now there for Tanner to thrive, and the expectations that tripped him up have disappeared.