infosstation

Baseball

Top Winter Meeting Spots for Free Agent Tanner Scott

2024-12-08

The Yankees, once a force in the baseball world, now find themselves in a predicament. With Clay Holmes moving to another New York team, they must secure another reliever to join Luke Weaver at the back end of their bullpen. Weaver shone as the club's closer in the playoffs, but Scott emerges as a more reliable option moving forward. The combination of Scott closing out games and Weaver serving as a bridge piece capable of going multiple innings seems like a dream scenario.

Yankees Seek Reliever to Boost Bullpen, Rangers Face Pressure

Yankees' Reliever Hunt

Nestor Cortes seems destined for a long-relief role at the start of next year, but the 40-man roster lacks other left-handed relief pitchers. The Yankees have a clear need for Scott, and if they pursue him aggressively, landing him would likely be a smooth process. The search for the right reliever is crucial for the Yankees' success in the upcoming seasons.

Weaver's performance in the playoffs has shown his potential, but having a reliable closer like Scott would provide stability. The Yankees need to make the right move to strengthen their bullpen and ensure they can compete at a high level.

Rangers' Offseason Struggles

The Rangers went from World Series champions to a third-place team with a sub-.500 record in just one year. This puts a significant amount of pressure on them as they enter the Winter Meetings. A look at their projected Opening Day bullpen makes any baseball fan cringe.

Former Pirates starter Roansy Contreras is penciled in as the Rangers' closer, while Daniel Robert, a 30-year-old righty with limited innings in 2024, is the top setup option. Jake Latz, a decent southpaw reliever, is the only lock to be part of their bullpen at the start of next season. During the 2024 season, the Rangers finished 26th in ERA from left-handed relief pitchers and were dead last in FIP at 5.21. Their -0.8 fWAR from that group ranked 29th, highlighting the need for improvement.

The Case for Scott with the Rangers

Adding Scott to the Rangers' bullpen makes a lot of sense. His 4.9 fWAR since 2022 is 1.3 wins above replacement above the second-best left-handed pitcher in that time. Despite the Rangers believing they can contend in the upcoming season, Scott should only be a small part of their offseason overhaul. However, bringing him on a multi-year contract is a great starting point.

The Rangers need to address their bullpen issues, and Scott could be a key piece in their quest for success. His experience and performance could make a significant difference in their ability to compete and reach their goals.