The New York Yankees chose not to extend Clay Holmes this winter, allowing him to enter free agency—a move that wasn’t unexpected considering his struggles during the season. While this decision was reasonable from the Yankees’ standpoint, they now face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for him.
Tanner Scott could be an ideal fit, as the left-handed reliever ranked among the top performers in Major League Baseball last season. Sports Illustrated’s Will Laws suggests that Scott might indeed land with the Yankees, predicting they’ll sign him this winter.
“Scott, a first-time All-Star this season, led all relievers with a 4.0 WAR over the last two years after sharpening his previously shaky control,” Laws noted on November 5. “This hard-throwing left-hander excels at generating soft contact when he’s not piling up strikeouts, putting him in position to be the highest-paid pitcher in a competitive free-agent reliever class.”
Scott Could Be Expensive
Although allowing Holmes to walk is the right move, the New York Yankees recognize that replacing him with someone better could come at a high cost. Holmes, despite his struggles, is still an All-Star from last season and is by no means a bad pitcher.
However, Holmes experienced a few challenging months that overshadowed his otherwise solid performances. In contrast, Scott maintained elite form throughout the season, making him likely to command a substantial contract.
MLB Trade Rumors projected future contracts for top players on the market, including Scott. They estimated a four-year, $56 million deal for the All-Star.
“This year’s free-agent class lacks a reliever like Edwin Diaz or Josh Hader—an elite closer who has consistently performed at an All-Star level throughout most of their career. Scott, the top reliever in this year’s class, falls into the next tier below…
“Since Scott was a midseason acquisition, the Padres can’t extend him a qualifying offer, and with their other roster needs, it’s unlikely San Diego will bring him back,” MLB Trade Rumors reported on November 4. “Scott stands above the relievers who have secured deals around three years and $30 million (such as Robert Stephenson, Taylor Rogers, and Rafael Montero). He’s likely to secure a four-year contract and might even reach five. His camp could aim for a deal similar to the four-year, $58 million contract Raisel Iglesias signed with the Angels.”
How Scott Would Fit in the Yankees Bullpen
The New York Yankees’ bullpen performed solidly in 2024, recording a 3.62 ERA, which ranked sixth in Major League Baseball. If not for a few rough stretches midseason, they likely would have finished even higher as a unit.
However, that doesn’t mean the Yankees wouldn’t benefit from an arm like Scott’s. He recorded a 1.75 ERA over 72 innings, striking out 84 batters in that stretch, following his impressive 104 strikeouts across 78 innings in the 2023 season.
Strikeout ability is crucial in the back end of a bullpen, and Scott provides that in spades.
While his price is high, the 29-year-old Scott would be a valuable addition for a Yankees team aiming to strengthen its World Series-contending roster.
