Red Sox are “clear frontrunners” for Tanner Scott

Red Sox

The Red Sox have already made some improvements to their bullpen this offseason, signing each Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson earlier this winter.

But does Boston still have its sights set on one of the best reliever on the open market in Tanner Scott? Former MLB GM Jim Bowden seems to think so.

“The most influential closer on the market has yet to sign and teams are lining up for him but waiting for the asking price to drop,” Bowden said wrote in his latest article in . “The Red Sox are the clear frontrunner for Scott.

“Their Chief Baseball Officer, Craig Breslow, was a left-handed reliever during his playing days and seems obsessed with uniting left-handed pitchers: he has already signed three of them in free agency (Patrick Sandoval, Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson ) and two others acquired via trades (Garrett Crochet, Jovani Moran). Red Sox manager Alex Cora prefers a single closer and Scott is the best available.

The Red Sox already have the makings of a strong bullpen, with Chapman and Wilson joining a group that also includes Liam Hendriks, Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock. But Scott could immediately step in as an elite closer for Boston, giving Alex Cora several interesting options for seventh- and eighth-inning duties.

Scott, 30, is coming off his first All-Star appearance last season, split between the Marlins and Padres. He appeared in a total of 72 games between both teams in 2024, had a 1.75 ERA and struck out 84 batters in 72 innings while drawing 36 walks.

The Red Sox still have the spending power to bring in an impact reliever like Scott, but Bowden also expects Boston to enter spring training with Alex Bregman, the top hitter on the free-agent market.

“Boston is my favorite place for Bregman, who turns 31 in March,” Bowden added. “You need a right-handed power pull hitter, and he would do significant damage to the Green Monster in left field.

“They could move Rafael Devers to first base and put Triston Casas at DH, or they could put Bregman at second base full time. His leadership skills and ability to grind out bats would help this young roster. He could be the final piece to get the Red Sox back to the postseason.”