Dodgers overpay for Padres’ 2024 trade acquisition with more wild spending

In what seems to be an ongoing cruel joke being played against the San Diego Padres, another top free agent has signed with NL West rivals Los Angeles Dodgers. This time to make matters worse, it was last year’s mid-season addition and one of the best relievers in the league, Tanner Scott, who has taken his talents up the 5 freeway and joined an already stacked pitching staff.

First reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Scott and the Dodgers have agreed on a 4-year, $72 million deal, a price tag the Padres would have no chance of matching. Already having one of the best starting rotations in baseball before the Roki Sasaki deal, the Dodgers have added two of the hottest free agent pitchers in the past two days. Scott will join a bullpen that consists of Blake Treinan, Michael Kopech, and Alex Vesia just to name a few.

BREAKING: Tanner Scott and the Dodgers have agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal, per source.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 19, 2025

Dodgers moves putting immense pressure on Padres

The Padres, in unusual fashion, have been one of the quietest teams in the league this off-season. Trade rumors have run rampant, but not a single one has come to fruition. Now out on Sasaki, San Diego will surely be keeping trade candidate Dylan Cease, but other names like Luis Arraez and Robert Suarez could still be on the block.

However, with Scott now joining the Dodgers, trading away Suarez may not be in the Padres best interest. Yes, the 33-year-old closer has a large payday coming his way in 2025, but the Padres are still in a win now mindset, and a quality backend bullpen piece is very much needed for success.

Scott could have been just that for the Padres if he had stayed, and would have allowed much more room for San Diego to look at dealing Suarez. Although any indication of Scott staying in San Diego was minimal simply because of the price tag he would bring, his decision to join the Dodgers places AJ Preller and the Padres in a very difficult situation.

Now still looking to make a meaningful addition to the roster, the Padres may be forced to look elsewhere in the team as potential trade candidates. Jake Cronenworth’s name has been mentioned in trade talks, although there has been little to no talks on where he could go.

Having to play by far the best team in baseball 13 times in the regular season, the Padres are being forged in fire. Now add one of the best relievers in baseball to that team and Padres hitters are going to be in a tough situation in 2025. For Padres fans, any hope at a successful 2025 now seems to rest on the dealings of Preller and the front office.