The 2024 Boston Red Sox bullpen's monumental late-season collapse was one of the main factors that drove the team out of Wild Card contention.
Boston's bullpen finished with a 4.39 ERA, No. 24 in the league. It had the worst ERA in baseball in the second half with a staggering 5.45 and collected 14 saves in 32 opportunities.
The Red Sox have already added Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman to revamp the 'pen, but they'll need more help to avoid another implosion like last season's. The returns of Chris Murphy and Liam Hendriks should also help, as well as Garrett Whitlock's move to the bullpen, but at least one more experienced arm would serve Boston well.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported that the Sox have checked in with Carlos Estévez, Jeff Hoffman, A.J. Minter, Andrew Kittredge and Tanner Scott. MLB insider Jim Bowden took Boston's connection to Scott further, saying that the Sox are "the clear front-runners" to sign the closer.
MLB insider names Red Sox front-runners for elite closer Tanner Scott
Tanner Scott gets Shohei Ohtani looking! 😮💨
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2024
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Reports recently surfaced of Scott's asking price and it seems steep for Boston's recent spending habits. League sources have said that the 30-year-old is looking for a contract for around four years at $80 million. Red Sox principal owner John Henry has expressed reluctance to sign pitchers to long-term deals, and while four years doesn't seem like too much time, it's a lot for a closer.
But Scott has only gotten better with age. He clocked a 4.61 ERA over 218.2 innings with the Orioles and Marlins from 2017-22. Scott logged a 2.31 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 24 walks in 78 innings in 2023 and a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 72 innings between the Marlins and Padres last season.
The Red Sox's closer job is already up for grabs with Chapman, Hendriks, Whitlock and Justin Slaten in the mix. Scott would be a clear front-runner for the job if Boston brings him in.
The reliever market hinges on Scott's destination and contract price — other arms are expected to sign in droves after Scott's decision is made. Cotillo expects a "big market bidding war" for his services and, due to the extent of the competition, calling anyone "a clear front-runner" for him is premature.
Still, the Red Sox have yet to flex their financial flexibility this offseason. Walker Buehler's one-year, $21.05 million deal is the most they've spent on a free agent this winter, so the team has more than enough money to sign Scott and whichever right-handed bat they prefer.