On Monday morning, the Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on a deal with starting pitcher Walker Buehler. Buehler joins the Red Sox rotation, which likely ends the dream that Boston would sign superstar Corbin Burnes in free agency.
Boston reportedly had an offer worth around $700 million on the table for superstar Juan Soto. Since then, the Red Sox swung a blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet and signed Walker Buehler. But they haven’t really spent the money in free agency they seemed willing to spend.
What will Boston do next with all this available money?
Prediction: Boston Red Sox sign LHP Tanner Scott. Three-year, $50 million deal.
Another place the Red Sox need to upgrade is the bullpen. Boston could trot out a starting lineup that could compete without making any additions there. But it couldn’t do that with the bullpen.
Closer Kenley Jansen seems headed out the door in free agency and the perfect replacement is available: left-handed pitcher Tanner Scott.
Scott spent time with both the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres in 2024. He made 72 appearances, pitching 72 innings with a 1.75 ERA split between his time with both teams.
He’s the top reliever on the market, so the Red Sox would need to pay him like it. While I project a three-year deal worth around $50 million, his actual contract may end up being four years with a total value of over $60 million or $65 million.
Either way, Boston found an affordable solution to the rotation. It has a lot of money to spend to upgrade the bullpen and Scott is the perfect place to start that process.
