The New York Yankees, who had a strong start to the season at 49-21, have encountered a difficult stretch, going 9-19 since. Their offense has struggled, ranking 19th in runs for July. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Yankees plan to prioritize improving their bullpen. Tyler Ward of Bleacher Report has predicted that the team will trade for Tanner Scott, a reliever from the Miami Marlins.
On July 6, Rosenthal stated, “The first thing’s going to be their bullpen. It was really good in the first 6-8 weeks, but it was a little bit of smoke and mirrors. There’s not enough swing-and-miss in that bullpen. We’ve talked about this. So, they, like every other contender, will be targeting relievers.”
Scott, who signed a one-year, $5.7 million deal with the Marlins after winning his arbitration case, will become a free agent after this season.
Scott’s Fit for the Yankees
“The veteran left-hander in the Miami Marlins bullpen is having an outstanding walk year,” Ward said.
Ward highlighted Scott’s impressive season, noting his 1.34 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Scott was named an All-Star for the first time this season. The Yankees bullpen ranks 16th in strikeouts per nine innings with 8.80. Since June 15, the Yankees have the 17th-ranked bullpen ERA at 4.24.
However, Ward also pointed out Scott’s difficulty with walks, as he has 5.6 walks per nine innings, placing him in the first percentile for walks.
“Scott needs to improve his command and avoid walking too many batters,” said Ward. “When he’s not issuing walks, Tanner Scott has been phenomenal.”
Ward concluded by calling Scott the “hottest commodity” among left-handed relievers at the trade deadline. The Yankees could benefit from a reliable arm like Scott in the bullpen, as he has allowed earned runs in only three outings this season.
“Besides Clay Holmes and the newly dominant Luke Weaver, who does Boone truly trust? Ian Hamilton has been inconsistent after his 2023 breakout,” Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic on June 10. “The same goes for lefties Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez, both acquired from the Dodgers during the offseason, and Tommy Kahnle, who is frequently injured.”
Marlins Open for Trades
According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, around twelve teams have shown interest in the Marlins’ player Scott, who is expected to be traded soon.
The Marlins have already signaled their strategy for the trade deadline. Although it’s still some time away, they traded two-time All-Star and batting champion Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres.
Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix explained the team’s rationale for trading established players for those with future potential. He said, “Given our current record and the low likelihood of making the playoffs this year, trading a player for future value seems to be the right move for the organization,” as reported by Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.
Additionally, Ward mentioned that the Yankees have the necessary assets to trade for Scott, and the decision will rest on general manager Brian Cashman’s willingness to make the move.
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