One of the biggest free-agent relievers on the market is reportedly looking for a sizeable pay increase this offseason.

A report from Sean McAdam from MassLive.com, who cites some NL sources on the Fenway Rundown podcast, has noted that LHP Tanner Scott is looking for a four-year deal in the $80 million range. This would equal out to a $20 million AAV.

Comparatively, only Edwin Diaz is the lone reliever to break that threshold ($20.4 million AAV) while the likes of Josh Hader ($19 MM), Ryan Pressly ($15 MM), and Raisel Iglesias ($14.5 MM) are trailing just behind. A majority of other relief arms sit between the $6 to $12 million range for those who have signed in free agency.

Scott is easily the top reliever this winter, setting himself apart from the group after a stellar couple of seasons split between Miami and San Diego.

The left-hander started his career with the Baltimore Orioles, making his debut in 2017 and floating between the big leagues and triple-A until the 2020 season. The condensed season saw him break out in certain ways – 1.31 ERA through 20 2/3 innings with a 1.065 WHIP and a 10.0 K/9 – before struggling in 2021 while spending time on the IL. The Orioles eventually shipped him off to the Marlins early into the 2022 season in exchange for two prospects.

Scott’s first season in the NL East saw him produce a 4.31 ERA through 67 outings and 20 saves, his first season as a go-to closing option. The Ohio product turned things around in 2023, posting a 2.31 ERA with a 0.987 WHIP and a 12.0 K/9 across 78 innings, a career-high for Scott that saw him finish with a 3.6 bWAR.

He continued this hot streak into 2024, where he broke out with Miami to the tune of a 1.18 ERA and a 3.25 FIP with a 10.4 K/9 while converting 18 saves through 20 opportunities. In a contract walk year, the Marlins shipped him across the country to the San Diego Padres for four prospects, helping shore up the Padres bullpen as they continued making a playoff push in the NL West. With his new squad, Scott amassed a 2.73 ERA through 26 1/3 innings with four saves, as the left-hander was not the go-to closing option for San Diego following the deal. Collectively, he finished with a 1.75 ERA across 72 outings with a 1.125 WHIP. He also pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings during the Padres postseason run this past year.

A two-pitch reliever, Scott possesses a high-90s fastball and a slider that generated a 38.8% whiff rate last year. A left-hander with fastball velocity that Scott possesses does not come up too often in free agency outside of Aroldis Chapman, and hitters struggled to make contact against the former Marlins’ fastball offering last year to the tune of a .131 average and a .217 wOBA.

His Baseball Savant page is full of positive percentile markings, led by his pitching run value (+23), average exit velocity (84.3 MPH), and hard-hit% (27.5) but his one blemish is the free passes. He boasts a career 4.9 BB/9 and was sitting above the 5.0 mark with the Marlins before the trade, which is concerning for a closer/high leverage type arm, but he gets away with it because of his double-digit strikeout rate and limiting the hits. Scott did see an uptick in his H/9 when he moved to a tougher decision last year as well but any team looking to make a major splash this offseason in the bullpen will be turning to the left-hander.

Predictions heading into the offseason had Scott nabbing a four-year deal in the $55 to $65 million range.