Free agency has slowed to a standstill with just a month remaining before pitchers and catchers report to their camps. The MLB Winter Meetings were expected to kick off a flurry of transactions, but after the major headline of Juan Soto signing his record-breaking contract with the New York Mets, activity has been scarce.
The reliever market has been especially stagnant since free agency began in November, with top-tier players still seeking teams. Carlos Estévez remains unsigned, while Jeff Hoffman has landed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, including incentives that could push the total to $39 million.
The biggest name still on the market is closer Tanner Scott, who is coming off an impressive 2024 season with a 2.73 ERA. Scott is drawing interest from several teams, potentially including the Phillies, and is poised to secure a lucrative contract.
Phillies still being a part of Tanner Scott’s market is a real head-scratcher
According to FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray, Scott has drawn extensive interest in the market, which has been building for months without significant progress toward a deal. Murray notes that Scott’s potential suitors include the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies, among others.
However, it’s puzzling that Philadelphia remains in the mix, given their offseason approach. Larger markets with deeper-pocketed owners seem like a more logical destination for Scott.
The Phillies entered the offseason focused on their bullpen and addressing potential turnover. They signed relievers Joe Ross and Jordan Romano earlier in the offseason for $8.5 million and $4 million, respectively. Adding a high-profile player like Scott appears unlikely, as the team has frequently expressed satisfaction with its current roster and voiced concerns about payroll limitations. Spotrac projects the Phillies’ 2025 payroll at approximately $304 million, with most of the roster already finalized.
While adding Scott would undoubtedly be a significant move, his projected $60+ million price tag seems out of reach for the Phillies. Crossing the $301 million payroll threshold has already pushed them into the fourth tax bracket, triggering a steep 110 percent luxury tax penalty, as noted by Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Although fans would welcome such a splashy signing, the reality is that the Phillies are likely done making major moves for next season.
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