As the Red Sox plan their offseason moves, there’s one clear area in need of serious reinforcement: the bullpen. With the departure of closer Kenley Jansen and likely exit of set-up man Chris Martin, the bullpen overhaul becomes Boston’s most pressing task. And according to Red Sox insiders Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of The Fenway Rundown, the answer may lie with a high-powered lefty: Tanner Scott.
Scott, a 30-year-old fireballer, made waves with the Marlins last season, boasting a 1.18 ERA and All-Star selection before heading to the Padres midseason. Though his ERA rose slightly to 2.73 in San Diego, Scott proved himself a dependable closer and set-up man. Cotillo believes bringing in a lefty of Scott’s caliber would save the Sox from relying on a revolving door of lesser-known left-handers, stating, “Just pay the guy to be elite, stop mixing and matching… get a really established lefty.”
Cotillo also speculates that Boston’s bullpen could gain even more depth by incorporating Justin Slayton and a recovering Liam Hendriks, along with Garrett Whitlock, who may shift from the rotation post-surgery. This trio could replace the Martin-Jansen combination, with Whitlock adding flexibility and Slayton or Hendriks locking down late innings.
Scott won’t come cheap, with Spotrac projecting a market value of four years at $66 million. While the Red Sox typically avoid lengthy deals for pitchers, a four-year investment in Scott’s elite arm could be an exception, especially given the stability he would bring to the bullpen.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox’s search for a starting pitcher will likely come through trades. With a surplus of promising position players, including top-25 prospects like outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer, the Red Sox are well-armed to pursue top-tier pitching. Targets may include Garrett Crochet, Jesus Luzardo, or Sonny Gray, though each comes with concerns ranging from injury history to inconsistency.
Boston’s offseason strategy may start with spending on bullpen security—and Tanner Scott could be just the powerhouse lefty to anchor it.
