Dodgers clearly forced Padres into massive Tanner Scott overpay

Another rumored Dodgers trade candidate bit the dust in the hours leading up to the 3 PM PST trade deadline, and in Tanner Scott's case, it was at the hands of one of the worst possible teams for LA. Scott, the Marlins' closer, was confirmed to be a Dodgers target on Monday by Jon Heyman, but just one day later, Miami was letting him go to the Padres for an absolutely ridiculous haul in return.

Jeff Passan confirmed that Scott would be headed west, while Marlins beat writer Craig Mish was on an extra offering from the Fish (Bryan Hoeing) and the four names they would be getting in return: lefty pitcher Robby Snelling, righty Adam Mazur, utilityman Graham Pauley, and infielder Jay Beshears, the Padres' Nos. 2, 4, 5, and 24 prospects.

With that kind of return for a pitcher in a walk year, maybe it's good that the Dodgers didn't get Scott, but they might've been the reason why the Padres had to send such an exorbitant return to Miami for the lefty.

After the deal was announced, Jon Heyman tweeted, "Dodgers were another team in at the end for Tanner Scott. That may have triggered the Padres to do more."

Dodgers could have the last laugh after losing out on Tanner Scott to Padres

While getting Scott would've been great for a Dodgers bullpen that has found themselves a closer short due to Evan Phillips' recent blowup and removal from the role, could sending back three top-10 prospects to the Marlins for two months of his services really have been worth it? Probably not. The Dodgers do have Alex Vesia and Daniel Hudson, who they could use as interim closers while they wait to see if Phillips can get his groove back. It's not ideal, but it's better than gutting the top of the pipeline for a rental. And what about Michael Kopech?

AJ Preller was probably shaking a lot of hands and congratulating himself after he made this deal, but it probably won't seem like something to be happy about when Scott leaves the Padres in free agency and San Diego has to sit with the fact that they've lost not one but two major-league-ready top prospects.

The Dodgers didn't get Scott, but they did weaken their biggest divisional foe's long-term strategy by forcing them into an overpay, and that should come with at least a little bit of satisfaction to paper over them losing out.