Dodgers News: Tanner Scott’s role (and updated contract details), new Japanese sponsorships

Emma Lingan

San Diego Padres v San Francisco Giants / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

The top free agent reliever is officially off the market after Tanner Scott's four-year, $72 million contract was finalized Thursday by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Scott's deal with the Dodgers runs through the 2028 season and includes a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred payments. According to a report from Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Scott’s contract also includes a club option for 2029 worth $5 million (plus incentives) if he suffers a so-called “qualifying injury” and isn’t traded; if he is traded, he gets a $3 million assignment bonus. Regarding the $21 million in deferred payments, $5.25 million of his annual salary will be deferred each year.

Scott has spent the last three seasons as a closer for the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres, but Ardaya also reported that "while Tanner Scott will get plenty of ninth-inning opportunities, he won’t be the Dodgers’ set closer."

Scott is arguably the best arm in a loaded Dodgers bullpen and has 54 saves over the past three seasons. But Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was impressed with Scott's team-first attitude and willingness to fill a variety of roles in the team's bullpen.

But in addition to Blake Treinen and potentially Kirby Yates, the Dodgers have multiple other players with closing experience. Evan Phillips entered last season as Los Angeles' closer, and Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda and Edgardo Henriquez also recorded saves in 2024.

Dodgers announce partnership with another Japanese company

Since they signed Shohei Ohtani ahead of the 2024 season, the Dodgers have been busy entering into international partnership agreements with Japanese companies. Those include All Nippon Airways, Kinoshita Group, Tsukiji Gindaco, AFEELA, Yakult, THK, Kosé Corporation, Daiso, Kowa Company, Ltd., and Toyo Tires, among others.

The Dodgers added another partner to their portfolio this week in ITO EN Ltd., makers of global unsweetened tea leader Oi Ocha – which just so happens to be Ohtani's favorite beverage. The partnership begins in the 2025 season and allows ITO EN to "avail itself of Dodger marks for creative marketing and engagement opportunities, as well as hospitality opportunities in Los Angeles."

More Dodgers content from Dodgers Way

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.