Categories: Rumors

Phillies reportedly interested in Tanner Scott

The Philadelphia Phillies apparently have interest in a relief pitcher they have seen quite a bit of in recent years.

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Phillies are one of four teams who “have interest” in Miami Marlins reliever Tanner Scott. Heyman also mentions the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees as teams with interest in the 29-year-old lefty.

Across 30 appearances this season, Scott has a 1.30 ERA and 3.51 FIP. This comes after Scott posted a 0.987 WHIP over 74 games a year ago, finishing in a tie with Félix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles for the top WAR (2.8) among all relievers, per FanGraphs

Scott has eight saves in nine attempts for the Fish this season, but isn’t necessarily someone who would be entrenched at closer if the Phillies acquire him. Under president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson, the Phillies have preferred not to refer to a specific pitcher as their closer. José Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman have gotten a bulk of the save opportunities this year, but certainly Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering would be capable of trying to shut the door as well. Scott would give the Phillies another option to do so.

Also of note is that Scott — who can become a free agent after the season — would be the fourth lefty in the Phillies bullpen, joining Alvarado, Strahm and Gregory Soto.

It is fair to wonder if the Phillies landed Scott, though, whether Soto would remain with the Phillies. Given that he has great stuff, is durable and has one more year of arbitration eligibility, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Marlins were interested in Soto as part of the return in a Scott trade. Whether it’s directly in return for Scott or in a separate trade, Soto could theoretically be someone that becomes a trade candidate if the Phillies were to add another left-handed reliever this summer.