Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the New York Yankees are among the teams interested in star closer Tanner Scott, who the Miami Marlins are sure to trade for. Scott, who is expected to make big money after producing a number of promising prospects this offseason, has a 1.18 ERA in 44 appearances as a primary relief pitcher this season and could bolster the top of the relief corps in the playoffs. With Clay Holmes’ recent struggles as a closer, the Yankees are in desperate need of a reliable weapon in the ninth inning.
He’s a high-strikeout pitcher the Yankees want, but they’ll likely have to fend off other top contenders to acquire him at the deadline.
Tanner Scott is drawing interest from Yankees, other teams
Credit: Lorna Wise – USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to argue that Tanner Scott isn’t one of the best relief pitchers in the league, especially considering how well he’s performed this year. His worse-than-expected ERA numbers might make him seem like a fantasy to some, but he’s only gotten better thanks to his improved control as the season has progressed. His pitches are just awesome, with a high-90s fastball and a good slider that allows him to overwhelm hitters and create soft contact.
Scott has a 49% ground ball rate, a 29.1% strikeout rate and a steadily declining walk rate as the season has progressed. After walking his first 14 games, he has only walked 13 batters in his next 30 games for an impressive 0.55 ERA. What the Yankees relief corps is missing is exactly what Tanner Scott provides: they need strikeouts, a lefty and someone who can close out games.
That being said, the competition for him will be intense, with teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers also in the running to acquire him. To be honest, there is no contender who wouldn’t have some interest in acquiring the talented left-hander, which would dramatically increase the price. If the Yankees can find a way to win the bidding war, they will have acquired a tremendous talent that could dramatically change their bullpen for the better in half a season.