Mets could truly bother Dodgers after meeting with top relief target

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres - Game 3
Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres - Game 3 | Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/GettyImages

When the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the race for Juan Soto's services, few reporters and fans expected them to come away with the star.

The New York Mets won the bidding war and signed Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract, the richest in sports history. After the Mets' NLCS elimination by LA and the expensive Soto signing, they seem to be pushing exceedingly hard to build a winner in Queens.

Rumors suggest the Dodgers, Mets and plenty of other teams will enter into another bidding war for elite talent in the coming days. New York has met with closer Tanner Scott, who LA has targeted to bolster its bullpen after the Yankees acquired longtime Brewers closer Devin Williams via trade. As much as it hurt to lose out on Williams, the Dodgers could mend their wounds by stealing Scott from the Mets and Padres.

Scott reportedly seeks a contract in the range of four years at $80 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid relievers in the game. Given their histories, the Dodgers and Mets seem like two of the likeliest teams to meet that price, especially because New York has already done it — they signed closer Edwin Díaz to a five-year, $102 million deal after the 2022 slate.

The Mets have met with Dodgers free agent reliever target Tanner Scott

Scott posted a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 72 innings between the Marlins and Padres last season. 2024 was the strongest season of the 30-year-old's career and he earned his first All-Star nod before the Marlins dished him to San Diego before the trade deadline.

The veteran proved last season that he can meet the moment when it counts. He didn't allow a run in 4 1/3 postseason innings pitched and he clocked seven strikeouts, five of which came against the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Los Angeles doesn't have a bona fide closer. Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips did the job last year in a down season for Joe Kelly, who is now a free agent. Scott would be an elite addition to the Dodgers' pitching staff as the team's shutdown closer if they can get to him before the Mets.

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