The big free agent reliever name fell off the board yesterday. In predictable fashion, it landed in the Dodgers organization.
Former Orioles left-hander Tanner Scott received a four-year, $72 million contract that reportedly will include a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million deferred. The Dodgers already are paying starters Blake Snell $182 million for five years and Roki Sasaki $6.5 million in an international free agent signing bonus, Teoscar Hernández $66 million for three years, reliever Blake Treinen $22 million for two years and outfielder Michael Conforto $17 million this season.
No team has repeated as World Series champion since the 2000 Yankees. The Giants kept trying by winning in 2010, ’12 and ’14. The Dodgers are really trying.
The Orioles tried to bring back Scott. They were engaged in talks, but the Dodgers pulled away at four/$72 million.
My first thought: Again, it’s amazing how Scott’s career has turned after the Orioles traded him to the Marlins, along with reliever Cole Sulser, for three minor leaguers on April 3, 2022. Outfielder Kevin Guerrero batted .205/.258/.295 last summer in 76 games with Single-A Delmarva. Left-hander Antonio Velez pitched in the independent American Association. Reliever Yaqui Rivera, the player to be named later, went 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 37 relief appearances with High-A Aberdeen and struck out 59 batters 54 1/3 innings.
Scott made 62 appearances with the Orioles in 2021 and posted a 5.17 ERA and 1.574 WHIP. He also averaged 6.2 walks, and a blazing fastball couldn’t compensate for his faulty control. The trust late in games just wasn’t there, but he became an All-Star last season and earned a big payday.
My second thought: As expected, the Orioles remained focused on pitching and held interest in Scott, but were they trying to fit him on the roster with Andrew Kittredge?
Kittredge signed last Monday for a guaranteed $10 million, which could have set an eight-man bullpen that included Félix Bautista, Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, Albert Suárez, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin. Suárez needs a role if he’s squeezed out of the rotation. No one else in this group seems vulnerable to an ouster.
Six days passed before news broke of Scott’s agreement with the Dodgers. At what point did the Orioles give up on him?
The Baltimore Banner reported yesterday that they remained engaged “as of a few days ago.”
To make Suárez a starter again would swell a crowd that already includes Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano as the favorites, plus Trevor Rogers, Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young. Another starter could be acquired in a trade, though it might remove someone from this group.
The offseason ain’t over.
Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are expected back after the All-Star break. The Orioles will need to figure out what to do when they’re ready, but there’s plenty of time to tackle this pleasant problem.
A full 40-man roster also holds relievers Bryan Baker, Colin Selby, Kade Strowd and Luis González. The Orioles re-signed Matt Bowman to a minor league deal.
The 13 projected position players still read as catchers Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez, infielders Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn, Jackson Holliday, Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo, and outfielders Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill and Heston Kjerstad. Corner infielders Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera are hovering.
The 40-man also includes infielder Jacob Amaya and outfielder Daz Cameron. Amaya was claimed on waivers Thursday from the White Sox, with pitcher Roansy Contreras designated for assignment.
Rant of the Day
Maybe I should make this a regular feature. Anyway, I’m happy for Washington football fans who are enjoying this exhilarating playoff ride and their sensational rookie quarterback, but let’s ditch the “long suffering” stuff.
Your team has won three Super Bowls!
You want long suffering? The Vikings and Bills are 0-4. The Jets won their only title in 1969. The Lions and Browns never got there. So sorry you’ve had to wait since 1991. Shut it.
Also, I lost my dad six years ago today and I miss him every day. He was such a good man. And he’d agree with me about the Commanders.
He’d also want to know what else the Orioles will do with their offseason and whether I’m brushing up on my Japanese.
