Cubs Have Made ‘Substantial’ Multiyear Offer to Tanner Scott
Maybe Boog Sciambi wasn’t just messing around when he asked Jed Hoyer whether he had his cell phone with him on stage at CubsCon just in case Tanner Scott’s agent called. Hoyer has spoken repeatedly about avoiding past mistakes with bullpen construction and the relief market is picking up pace, so the Cubs need to act quickly if they want to lock in one of the top remaining options. While I’d have called you crazy not too long ago for suggesting they would do what it’ll take to get Scott, my pessimism has waned of late.
CI has confirmed the initial report by Matthew Trueblood of North Side Baseball that the Cubs have made a “substantial” offer to Scott, who many believe will get four years and over $60 million. Whether and how far the bidding goes beyond that point is key here, as at least one other team is involved. While the Cubs are comfortable getting uncomfortable when it comes to their bullpen construction blueprints they aren’t likely to get reckless.
But if there is a reliever for whom the Cubs would throw caution to the wind, it’s Scott. The 30-year-old lefty has saved 52 games over the last three years and has made 275 appearances over the last four. A big-time strikeout guy, Scott has tamped down the walks over the last two seasons and has been among the best in the majors at limiting homers in that time. His riding 97 mph fastball and sharp slider thrown from a low three-quarters arm slot cause all kinds of problems for opposing hitters.
Tanner Scott went from an average big-league reliever to a highly sought-after trade piece in his platform year. 📈
2017-2022:
218.2 IP
4.61 ERA
95 ERA+
2023-2024:
150.0 IP
2.04 ERA
224 ERA+
#TreadFam pic.twitter.com/sg5SvJfm2d— Tread Athletics (@TreadHQ) December 9, 2024
You’ve got to pay up big time for that kind of production, but the Cubs may have a leg up even if they aren’t the highest bidders. Scott really turned things around after signing up with Tread Athletics in 2022. Having the opportunity to work with Tyler Zombro again might be exactly the kind of thing that would entice Scott to continue his elite performance over the next several years. Keep an eye on this one, as a decision could come soon.