Tanner Scott update has Dodgers fans genuinely confused over offseason plans

To say Tanner Scott's first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers was disappointing would be an understatement.

After emerging as one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the sport in 2023 and 2024 (2.04 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 150 innings pitched), Scott signed a well-deserved four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers in free agency.

Then, he fell apart in Los Angeles, pitching to a 4.74 ERA and 4.70 FIP in 57 innings while blowing 10 saves and surrendering a career-high 11 home runs.

The southpaw struggled so much in September (6.48 ERA and two blown saves) that he wasn't used at all in the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds, and then he was removed from the NLDS roster mid-series due to an emergency lower body surgery.

It's probably not the best sign when your de facto closer is left off your World Series roster, but that was the case with Scott, who was eligible and seemingly healthy enough to pitch in the Fall Classic.

Thus, one would expect the Dodgers to re-prioritize closers again this winter, especially with guys like Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech hitting free agency. However, it sounds like Scott may get the first crack at the ninth-inning job in 2026.

Dodgers plan to give Tanner Scott chance at re-emerging as closer

“He certainly is one of the guys in that group [competing for the ninth-inning job],” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We’ve seen it in the past. There is reliever volatility. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this happen in the past with other great relievers. So we fully believe Tanner’s 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 the games.”

That's a fair assessment of things, especially since Scott was one of the best relief pitchers in the world just 12 months ago. Giving up on him after one poor season (and with three years remaining on his contract) isn't exactly good business.

But that "reliever volatility" is precisely why Scott can't be trusted to reassume the closer gig in 2026. There's no telling if injuries will continue to hold him back, or if his effectiveness is waning as he ages deeper into his thirties.

Even after Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams signed, there are a ton of intriguing closer options on the market, including Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez. The Dodgers may be hesitant to pay another 30-something reliever huge money after watching Scott collapse under their watch in 2025, but unless Roki Sasaki is going to move to the bullpen on a full-time basis, there needs to be another infusion of talent in Dave Roberts' relief corps this offseason.